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Sweet Survival: Unmasking the Dalgona Craze Behind the ‘Squid Game’ Cookie Challenge!
The dalgona candy, featured prominently in the hit series Squid Game, blends nostalgia with high-stakes drama. Originally a beloved street snack in the 1970s and 80s, dalgona became a global sensation following the show's release, inspiring countless social media challenges. Its simple ingredients—sugar and baking soda—reflect the ingenuity of traditional street food.
In the high-stakes realm of Squid Game, survival hinges on a deceptively simple childhood challenge: carving shapes from a brittle candy known as dalgona. Beyond the tension of the show, this iconic treat offers a sweet glimpse into South Korea's rich cultural heritage.
When Squid Game premiered, it quickly became a cultural phenomenon. Among its most memorable challenges, the dalgona candy game stood out as contestants attempted to carve intricate shapes—like stars, triangles, or the infamous umbrella—from the fragile confection without breaking it. This mix of nostalgia and high-stakes tension resonated globally.
Following the show's success, the "Squid Game cookie" became a worldwide obsession. Social media exploded with videos of fans attempting the challenge, often yielding hilariously disastrous results. This surge in popularity transformed dalgona into a symbol of the show's cultural impact, merging traditional food with modern pop culture.
Before its Netflix fame, dalgona candy (or ppopgi) was a beloved treat in South Korea, particularly in the 1970s and 80s. Sold by street vendors outside schools, it lured children with its caramelized sweetness and playful stamped designs. Kids would eagerly nibble around the edges, trying to maintain the shape—a precursor to the viral game.
The simplicity of dalgona, crafted from just sugar and baking soda, embodies the ingenuity of street food culture. Its resurgence through Squid Game sparked nostalgia for older generations while introducing younger audiences to a cherished piece of Korean culinary history.
The dalgona challenge wasn't just a memorable moment in Squid Game; it showcased behind-the-scenes ingenuity. In an interview on Netflix Korea's YouTube channel, writer-director Hwang Dong Hyuk revealed that the scene's authenticity was thanks to meticulous preparation, including having a dalgona expert on set to create fresh candies for each take. The team worked tirelessly to preserve the delicate nature of the candy during filming.
Even the now-iconic "licking the candy" strategy has roots in Hwang's personal experiences. He shared how he perfected this technique as a child to win big prizes: "I wanted to see if it really worked," he recalled. "The day before filming, I brought some to my hotel room and licked it all night." This nostalgic connection added depth to the scene, blending Hwang’s childhood memories with a high-stakes game that captivated audiences worldwide.
Dalgona candy transcends being a mere viral treat; it serves as a cultural artifact reflecting the creativity and nostalgia of South Korean food culture. From its humble beginnings as a street snack to its global debut in Squid Game, dalgona illustrates how something as simple as sugar and baking soda can carry profound meaning.
The candy's rise highlights how food, amplified by media, can cross borders and become a shared cultural phenomenon. Whether as part of the "Squid Game candy" challenge or as a glimpse into Korean history, dalgona candy exemplifies the unique power of food to connect people across time and cultures.
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