CNN on Sept. 29 hailed "Squid Game," the original Korean series on Netflix that is taking the world by storm. (Screen capture from CNN's website)

By Sarah Oqelee and Kim Hayeon 

The original Korean Netflix drama "Squid Game" is making headlines around the world as world media including CNN and The Guardian of the U.K. analyze the series' sensational popularity.

The nine-episode show is about down-and-out contestants playing life-or-death games for a chance to win the grand prize of KRW 45.6 billion.

CNN on Sept. 29 praised the smash in the article "Squid Game: What it is and why you will be obsessed with it," saying, "Netflix's latest hit really kills."

"To say the horror series is causing a buzz would be an understatement," it added. "It's a bit of a phenomenon much like the South Korean film 'Parasite' turned out to be." 

The New York Post introduced the worldwide craze for "Squid Game" on social media through hashtags in the article "How Netflix’s brutal 'Squid Game' is already wreaking havoc around the world." 

"Squid Game — the warped new Netflix series that pits poor people against each other in a battle to the 'death' — has already taken social media audiences hostage," the daily said.

The Guardian on Sept. 28 also analyzed the series' success in the story "Squid Game: the hellish horror show taking the whole world by storm."

"The nine-part series is the first Korean show to reach the top spot on the streaming platform in the US, and is currently number one in the UK," it said. "Its success won't come as a surprise to a generation of viewers who got hooked on murderous dystopian series The Hunger Games and cult favorite Battle Royale."

BFM, a 24-hour news channel in France, hailed the show, adding that it "astonished critics and viewers." Mentioning how the squid game was the most popular pastime in 1970s Korea, the channel said that by showing the need for tactical thinking, the series perfectly expressed metaphorically the messages it wanted to send.

A scene from the original Netflix series "Squid Game." (Netflix)

sarahoqelee@korea.kr