Many people got hooked on the hit Netflix series “Squid Game” not only because of the gripping story and well-acted performances of the cast as an ensemble. This movie also opened our eyes to Korean culture, including food, family dynamics, and, of course, the exciting world of Korean childhood games.
Since these games are a great way to connect with Korean culture and its traditions, let’s learn more about them, including the ones that got cut off in the limited running time of the popular series.
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The Top Korean Childhood Games
Many of South Korea’s most popular traditional games are rooted in ancient Korean folk beliefs and activities from earlier times. While many of these beliefs no longer exist, many of the games that started eons ago are still being played up to this day, preserving a big part of Korean culture:
Hackysack
In Korean: Jegichagi (제기차기)
Hackysack is a Korean traditional game with a history dating back to the Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392). Over the years, the beloved game became a familiar song to Korean people, especially the kids. It continued to be a popular pastime and was even declared a national sport in South Korea in 2000. Players hop using one leg to keep a coin, a paper jegi, or any small, weighted object in the air using only their feet.
Yut
In Korean: Yut Nori (윷놀이)
It’s a traditional game board where players use four wooden sticks with marked sides. They toss the sticks and move the pieces on the board with the objective of outsmarting their opponents. The strategy depends on what is running in a player’s head. Korean children play this game during Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok. But it’s a game created way before the Korean War or the later Three Kingdoms period (57 BC – 668 AD).
Red Light, Green Light
In Korean: Mugunghwa kkoch-I pieossseubnida (무궁화 꽃이 피었습니다)
The game, which reached global popularity thanks to the series “Squid Game,” celebrates Korea’s national flower, the hibiscus. Unlike in the series, the game is typically played in a group sitting in a circle. The players take turns saying, “Hibiscus has bloomed,” while others respond, “It’s bloomed, it’s bloomed,” without showing any emotion. And nope, losing teams won’t be shot by “Squid Game” cops.
Slap-Match Game
In Korean: Ddakjichigi(딱지치기)
This game is typically played by two players, who take turns trying to flip the opponent’s folded paper tile while avoiding having their own Ddakji (folded paper tile) flipped. You need to have a decent skill to flip the Ddakji in order to win. This game was the first game that they played in “Squid Game” series to bring the 456 players into the real game. It is considered a classic Korean game for elementary school kids or even younger kids.
Squid Game
In Korean: Ojingeo geim (오징어게임)
Yes, there is a game that inspired the creation of the popular South Korean television series. It is a traditional Korean game played within a shape of a drawn squid(triangle, square and circle) on the ground where players try to defend and attack each other.
Tops
In Korean: Paengi (팽이)
Tops are classic spinning toys that Korean children have enjoyed for generations. Paengi comes in various shapes and sizes. Some Paengi are handcrafted with intricate designs, patterns, and stunning shapes, which are often treasured as keepsakes. It may be a simple game, but it’s among the popular games played as part of friendly competitions during various Korean festivals.
Flying Stone
In Korean: Biseokchigi(비석치기)
This may be among the top Korean games with a peculiar name. But don’t let the name of this popular game fool you. It’s among the popular traditional games enjoyed by both adults and children. Families gather at ancestral grave sites, specifically during Korean holidays, to pay respects and honor their ancestors while having fun. This children’s game is traditionally played with the participants taking turns tossing small sticks at a target representing a tombstone.
Tuho
In Korean: Tuho (투호)
This is another game always included in the list of Korean traditional games. The players throw sticks into a narrow cylindrical target to test their precision and focus. This game appears in many festivities, played by family members.
Rubber Band Game
In Korean: Gomujul Nori (고무줄놀이)
Children and adults enjoy playing this game using a long rubber band or up to three bands. It can be a one-on-one battle or by group so that winning and losing teams can be announced in the end. The goal is to see who can stretch the rubber bands the farthest. Players can also engage in a game where the person or team that came up with the most stunning shapes wins. Players can loop or stretch the rubber bands to create beautiful shapes.
Gonggi
In Korean: Gong-Gi (공기)
This traditional Korean game is played using colorful pebbles or small plastic pieces. The game aims to toss one piece in the air, pick up other pieces from the ground, and catch the falling piece with the same hand. Each type of toss and catch has its point value, and the goal is accumulating the most points.
Tug-Of-War
In Korean: Juldarigi (줄다리기)
Many Korean games are adaptations of other nation’s traditional games, including this one. It’s the Korean version of the classic game of tug-of-war. The game is played by two teams, testing their collective strength and unity. Each team gives their all in pulling on opposite ends of a thick rope in hopes of pulling the opposing team across a designated boundary line.
How Do You Say “Childhood Games” In Korean?
In Korean, the term for “childhood games” is eorin sijeol geim (어린 시절 게임).
Korean Vocabulary Related To Childhood Games
Here are some words and phrases in Korean related to games and playing to boost your language skills:
FAQs About Korean Childhood Games
1. What Is The Traditional Korean Children’s Game?
In Korea, Ggonggi (small pebbles) is a very famous game for children. Yutnori is another common game for family gatherings during holidays in Korea.
2. What Is The Cham Cham Cham Game?
This is a very simple and fun game to play. You need another person to play against, and while you’re saying “Cham Cham Cham”, you have to guess in which direction your opponent’s head will move. If you follow the opponent’s hand direction, you loose!
3. What Do Kids In Korea Do For Fun?
There is so much fun stuff to do these days for children. Just like in other countries, movie or TV series toys are popular in Korea. Of course, video games are also among the fun things to do for kids. Moreover, traditional Korean games are also coming back for children’s healthy playing.
Wrapping Up
We explored all about Korean childhood games today. Which game is your favorite? This games are not just for children, they may be simple but they’re still fun for adults to play.
If you really want to connect with Korean culture, you should try to play them! You could try Gonggi, or maybe the Slap-Match Game. They can be a great way to familiarize yourself with the Korean language and traditions.
Connect With Korean Culture Through Its Language
If you’re looking for a fun and interactive way to learn Korean, you may want to try Ling! It’s a mobile app with an innovative approach to language learning.
Just like the childhood games we’ve been exploring today, Ling transforms the process of acquiring a new language into a playful and enjoyable experience.
With an engaging and gamified interface, points and achievements, and entertaining exercises and quizzes, you’ll be learning while having fun.
So go ahead, download the app and start your Korean learning journey today!
Happy learning! “See you next time” – Daeume tto mannayo (다음에 또 만나요)
