Leiden University Student Repository

Kesteren, Elise van (2022)

SQUID GAME: DEPICTIONS OF CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN THE SOUTH KOREAN SOCIETY: The impact of visual socio-economic struggles on Dutch younger audiences

Bachelor thesis | Koreanstudies (BA)

Since Audience Studies research that encompassed K-dramas primarily focused on early 2000s romance dramas and Asian or American audiences, this research aims to contribute to the research gap in western audiences and contemporary K-dramas by analyzing the impact of the Netflix K-drama Squid Game on Dutch younger audiences. By using mixed methods in the form of a survey and semi-structured interviews with Dutch participants, this study concludes that Squid Game effectively changed audiences’ previous ideas about South Korean citizens' social and financial well-being. Furthermore, the in-depth analysis reveals that the respondents recognized and interpreted criticism on current socio-economic issues in the series, regardless of their age, gender, education, or previous exposure to K-dramas.

Audience Studies, Dutch Audiences, K-Drama, Squid Game, Social Well-Being

Author

Kesteren, Elise van

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Supervisors

Jang, S.Y.

ECTS Credits

10

Language

en