Squid Game has gotten so wildly popular that fans in the United Arab Emirates are getting the chance to play their favorite games from the Netflix Korean survival drama. The Korean Cultural Center in Abu Dhabi is organizing a reenactment of the show’s games, but this time it’s without the gory violence.
According to the Khaleej Times, two teams of 15 people will be allowed to participate in the event, which will take place in two sessions on October 12. The center’s event page said that four out of six games from the series will be played at the event, including Red Light Green Light, Dalgona Candy, Marble Game, and Ttakji.
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The real-life Squid Game will happen in two-hour tournament-style matches. Eliminated players will get to watch the remainder of the games from the sidelines. The only caveat to the event is, there is absolutely no prize money of any amount.
To give an idea of how mild these real-life recreations are when compared to the show, staff members at the Korean Cultural Center will shoot sponge guns instead of actual firearms at players who move during Red Light Green Light. Anyone whose movement is detected will be eliminated.
Nam Chan-woo, director of the Korean Cultural Center, said that 338 people have already signed up to play the game. Those who are selected to participate will wear T-shirts bearing the Squid Game logo, while staff members will wear the pink circle, triangle, and square uniforms worn by the guards from the drama.
“The games seem a bit brutal in the series to maximize the dramatic elements. However, all the games in the show are popular ones played by Korean children from past to present,” Nam said.
The director also hopes that people will learn more about and appreciate Korean culture through the Squid Game event, adding, “Just as K-Pop gained worldwide popularity in the 2010s, I think platforms such as Netflix would be a channel for the global spread of Korean video content such as dramas and movies.”
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