Korean Names in Squid Game - How Do They Work?
I spent my Christmas holidays binging the latest season of Squid Game, and I have to say, I think it has become one of my all-time favourite shows. The acting, the story, the sets - everything about it drew me in and left me hungry for more.
Source: Netflix
I’m no stranger to watching foreign-language content with subtitles - I’ve watched shows and movies from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, and many other countries. However, I know that for some people, Squid Game may be their first foray into the foreign-content world. It can be strange, watching something where you don’t understand the language and have to rely on written translations fluttering across the screen.
Aside from the language barrier, watching foreign-language content can introduce us to new cultural ideas and customs, such as the childhood games used in Squid Game. One such cultural difference struck me when I was watching the show during the holidays - the characters often refer to each other using their full names, rather than first names only.
This Korean custom was familiar to me before watching the show, as Mandarin Chinese has a similar system for names. However, I realized that for those who don’t have a background in languages that work this way, the constant use of full names in the subtitles may be confusing. So, if you were puzzled by the names in Squid Game, or in other Korean shows and movies, keep reading to find out how the system works.
Order of names
In many countries, the order of names is personal (first) name + surname. However, in Korean, the surname (also known as a family name) comes first, followed by the personal name. The family name usually has one syllable, and the personal name normally has two. Below are some examples of character names from Squid Game:
Seong Gi-hun 성기훈
Hwang Jun-ho 황준호
Hwang In-ho 황인호
Kang Sae-byeok 강새벽
Oh Il-nam 오일남
Using names
As well as a different order, Korean names are also used differently to names in many other languages. Usually in Korean, people refer to each other using both the surname and the personal name, particularly if they are talking to someone older than them. However, if two people are close friends or family, it is appropriate to use the personal name only.
This explains the heavy use of full names in Squid Game, and the minimal use of personal names on their own. One example of a character who addresses another character using their personal name is Jang Geum-ja, who calls her son by his first name, Yong-sik.
Although I am far from an expert in Korean naming conventions, I hope that this short explanation helps to understand this omnipresent cultural difference in Squid Game. With the last season set for release at some point in 2025, it’s worth brushing up on your knowledge of Korean language and culture to get the most out of the final episodes!
If you know any interesting facts about Korean names, or if there’s anything I’ve missed, let me know in the comments!
