By Pelumi King
The Korean movie industry can be said to be one of the best movie industries in the world. The qualities embedded in the movies are unmistakable. The lighting, music, and others also speak well of Korean movies. However, the lack of creativity and new ideas in Korean movies has hampered its growth and changed its image in recent years.
Korean movies became widely popular in Nigeria and the world after the release of City Hunter and a Man called God. They introduced themselves and their quality to the world after these two movies. It was a new story idea, a beautiful one at that, the acting, lighting, sound, and every other thing of the movie made sense. Boys Before Flower and Heartstringswere also another movie that made Korean movies popular. They were love movies that shook the world and left people most especially Nigerian girls in awe of the brilliance of the movies.
Sadly, there has been less creativity and lack of new ideas after this, movies most especially series that have come after this have similar storylines to these movies. It almost seems as if the writers of these movies are doing a revamp or a remake of these movies. One could say that the writers and producers of these movies wanted to build on the reigning new ideas before it fizzles out,
Some Korean movies have however been different from the rest. They have changed the status quo. Parasite, Miracle in Cell No 7, Train to Busan, and most recently Squid game to name a few have changed the perception of Korean movies, however, the subject in question here is the Squid game.
Squid games have changed the Korean movie industry in a diverse number of ways. This can be seen in the streaming numbers of the movie on Netflix, it is the number one movie in over 90 countries on Netflix. Netflix recently announced that the Squid game is on track to becoming the most-streamed movie ever on its platform.
Squid game changed the perception of Korean movies by showing Korean movie writers can be creative and have new ideas. The idea embedded in the squid game was new not only in the Korean movie industry but also in the world, Unlike Train to Busan which built on the ideas of Zombie, Squid game engineered a lot of new ideas. Squid game pictured adults playing popular Korean children’s games to win 45 billion won. This was a new concept never seen before in movies. This was the major reason people were attracted to the movie and watched it. The series showed that Korean movies had new ideas.
Squid game also showed that Korean movies are more than being love movies. Korean movies in recent years have been known for being romance movies. There are various elements of romance in virtually almost every Korean movie, this is why women watch Korean movies than men because Korean movies appeal more to emotions and preach fairy-tale love. However, there was little or no romance in Squid game. The Romance side was not explored. This is unlike any Korean movie.
Squid game is one of the best exports of the Korean movie industry in recent years, It has also given Korean movies especially the Korean series a new image. It has also broken records while doing so. Squid game will be known as one of the best Korean series in history not just for the fantastic acting and unique storyline but for its contribution to the Korean music industry.
