5 Questions
What is the plot of the Netflix show "Squid Game"?
The plot follows a group of people who are tempted into a survival game where they have the chance to win 45.6 billion Korean won (£29m) if they win a series of six games, but they die if they lose.
What is the reaction of some Korean-speaking fans to the show's subtitles?
Some Korean-speaking fans say that the subtitles are "so bad" that the original meaning is often lost.
What is the potential reward for winning the game?
The potential reward for winning the game is 45.6 billion Korean won (£29m).
How does the mistranslated dialogue in the show compare to the Academy Award-winning film Parasite?
The mistranslated dialogue puts more emphasis on the wealth disparity in society, which is also a theme in Parasite.
How many views has Youngmi's TikTok video discussing the mistranslations had?
Youngmi's TikTok video discussing the mistranslations has had almost nine million views.
Study Notes
- The subtitles for the Netflix show "Squid Game" are said to have changed the meaning of the show for English-speaking viewers.
- Some Korean-speaking fans say that the subtitles are "so bad" that the original meaning is often lost.
- The series has proved hugely popular since its release last month, and is on track to beat Bridgerton to become Netflix's biggest original series.
- The plot sees a group of people tempted into a survival game where they have the chance to walk away with 45.6 billion Korean won (£29m) if they win a series of six games.
- If they lose, they die.
- The dialogue was well written and zero of it was preserved in the subtitles, according to one Korean-speaking fan.
- In a TikTok video that's had almost nine million views, Youngmi gave several examples of mistranslation. One scene has a character trying to convince people to play the game with her, and the subtitles read: "I'm not a genius, but I still got it worked out." But what the character actually says is: "I am very smart, I just never got a chance to study."
- This translation puts more emphasis on the wealth disparity in society - which is also a theme in the Oscar-winning 2019 Korean film, Parasite.
How well do you know the subtitles for the Netflix show "Squid Game"? Do you know which scenes have been mistranslated? Test your knowledge with this quiz.
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