‘Squid Game’: Park Hae-Soo’s Friends Call His Newborn Son ‘Baby Squid’ — And Why
The global success of Netflix’s Squid Game landed the main cast to be guest stars on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Park Hae-soo, HoYeon Jung, Wi Ha-joo, and Lee Jung-jae made their grand appearance on television on Oct.6 to American audiences. Jimmy Fallon had questions concerning the giant robotic doll in the K-drama that has become a TikTok and social media sensation.
In between talking about the drama’s success, actor Park Hae-soo comments on being a first-time father and his friends and family’s cute nickname for his son. The Squid Game cast also discussed the key element that makes the K-drama so appealing to its audiences. Squid Game gained notoriety for its use of childhood games.
Jimmy Fallon asks the ‘Squid Game’ cast about the robotic doll and the K-drama’s main hook
The cast of Netflix’s Squid Game was equally flustered to appear on the late-night talk show, as were their fans. Fallon unearthed a new fact about the “Red Light, Green Light” doll that American fans were unaware of. According to Collider, the doll is 100% real and was created specifically for the show. Macha Land is a small horse carriage village in Jincheon County that initially displayed the doll. On The Tonight Show, HoYeon Jung explains that the doll character is well-recognized from children’s textbooks. Her name is Young-hee.
Wi Ha-joon goes on to explain what drew audiences to watch the K-drama. The appeal of Squid Game is the use of childhood games “that can be original, refreshing and also shocking at the same time to global viewers.” Wi believes the cast did a good job portraying human nature and the “raw greed” that takes place in the games.
‘Squid Game’s’ Park Hae-soo’s firstborn son is nicknamed ‘Baby Squid’
Fallon congratulated Park on a very special moment that happened only recently. According to Soompi, Park and his wife welcomed their first child on Sept.29. On The Tonight Show, Park revealed a cute tidbit about his son. The actor revealed the nickname his friends use for his son. Close friends call him “Baby Squid” due to the fact that he was born the same day as the K-drama.
Park and his close friends call his son a lucky charm. Park held his son for the first time at 3:50 P.M. KST, only 10 minutes before the premiere of Squid Game on Netflix. Squid Game debuted at 4 P.M. KST. In January of 2019, Park married his girlfriend in a ceremony in Seoul.
‘Squid Game’ is Netflix’s top global K-drama
For viewers who have been K-drama fans for years, the opportunity to see the main cast on an American talk show is a big deal. K-dramas have become a worldwide sensation over the years with the globalization of Korean culture. Despite the drama’s success amongst fans, Netflix’s Squid Game reached a level of fame no one expected. The K-drama enthralled fans and casual viewers, leading it to be the number one watched show in over 90 countries.
For the first time, Netflix’s co-CEO called the original K-drama their most successful series on the streaming platform so far. K-Pop and Korean movies like Parasite have won recognition by Billboard charts and the Academy Awards. Squid Game has reached a level of success no other drama has done before with a global audience. During The Tonight Show, Park was asked when he realized the K-drama became a success. The actor answered, “Right now.”
In an interview with Variety, Wi explains, “I hope that in the future we continue to see more diverse Asian representation in many diverse roles and that I can contribute to letting the world enjoy Korean content through some new and original works going forward.”
