Squid (game)

Squid (Korean: 오징어, ojingŏ), is a children's game played in South Korea. The game is named as such because the shape of the playing field drawn on the ground resembles that of a squid. There are regional variations of the name such as "squid gaisan" (with gaisan thought to be a variation of the Japanese word kaisen 開戦, 'to start a war'), or "squid takkari".^[1] It is a multiplayer game, and the game is divided into two teams, offensive and defensive. There are two main purposes, either for the attackers to achieve the purpose of the attack, or for the teams to annihilate each other.^[2]

Gameplay

There are multiple versions of the rules for different areas and groups. Regional names differ.

General rule elements

The home bases for each of the teams are called "houses" (집 chip). The top circle is the house for the offensive team, the bottom rectangle is the house for the defensive team, and the middle triangle is the neutral ground between them.^[1]

The objective for the offensive team is to leave their house and move outside the figure around to the bottom of the defensive house (shown open on the diagram above), then pass through the figure back into the offensive house.^[3]^[4]

Attacking players are required to move only by hopping on one foot until they "promote" by either reaching area two having passed through area three; or by hopping over the thin part of the figure between the two areas marked four. Once promoted, they may use both feet.^[3]

The defensive team tries to eliminate the members of the offensive team by pushing them across a line of the figure they are not permitted to cross. Typically this means pushing players who have entered the figure out, or pushing players attempting to hop over the figure at area 4 into the triangle. Defensive team members who leave the figure are also eliminated, so it is possible for the attackers to win by pushing all defenders out of the figure.^[5]

Regional variations

Because the game is informally played among children, there are no official rules, and their common features are mainly attested through multiple people who played it as children. However, a few examples of regional variations in rules are listed.

Regional names

In some parts of Busan Geoje and other regions in southern Kyungsang province, the game is called ojingeo dalguji. In the Jongno region the game is called ojingeo po; in Songpa district, ojingeo isang; in Daegu Gyeonggi province and southern Seoul, ojingeo gaisan.^[6]

Squid ttaeng (Busan)

Squid ttaeng (오징어땡 ojingeo ttaeng) is a regional variation of the game that is popular in Busan. It usually involves ten or more participants. The origin of the game is assumed to be influenced by both the large presence of squid in the waters around Gadeokdo island and by the popularity of squid as a snack among local children. The game starts by dividing two teams, with at least ten people per team. A squid with a pentagon-shaped body and a round tail is drawn. The team that wins a game of rock paper scissors becomes the defensive team and the team that loses becomes the offensive team. If the offensive team reaches the house of the defensive team and shouts Ttaeng! (땡!, the sound of a bell), the game is won by the offensive team and the two teams change sides.^[7]

Squid unification game

Squid unification game (오징어통일놀이 ojingeo tongilnoli) is a regional variation of the squid game that is based in Haenam. The game is said to have originated from the Three Kingdoms period of Korea when the kingdoms were fighting for land. In this version, the area which the offensive team has to reach while passing the defensive team is called the "unification area".^[8]

Ojingeo dalguji

For this variation, the person who is promoted is called cheolin (철, 'iron man'). The game starts when the offensive team yells Ojingeo! (오징어!, 'Squid!') and the defensive team replies with Dalguji! (달구지!, 'Cart!').^[9]

In popular culture

The 2021 streaming television series Squid Game on Netflix is named after this children's game, but features a version with deadly stakes.^[10] In the TV show, the term for the promoted person is "inspector royal" (암행어사 amhaengŏsa).^[9]