Major foreign media such as The New York Times and The Associated Press of the U.S. and The BBC of the U.K. have given major coverage to "Squid Game" winning Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series at this year's Primetime Emmy Awards. (Screen capture from New York Times)

By Lee Jihae

Major foreign media such as The New York Times and The Associated Press of the U.S. and The BBC of the U.K. have given major coverage to "Squid Game" winning Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series at this year's Primetime Emmy Awards of the U.S.

In a Sept. 12 article headlined "'Squid Game' and Lee Jung-jae make Emmys history," The Times called the series the first "foreign-language show" to win the award.

In its article headlined "South Korean celebration of 'Squid Game' Emmy wins subdued," The AP said, "From K-pop sensations BTS and BLACKPINK to the movie 'Parasite' that won four Oscars, South Korean pop culture is now a global phenomenon."

Film critic Kim See-moo was quoted as telling the wire service, "People are getting used to (major awards)," adding, "(Director) Bong Joon-ho took home four Oscars for 'Parasite,' another one of our actors won an Oscar for 'Minari' and then Park Chan-wook won best director at Cannes (for 'Decision to Leave'). South Koreans no longer think there are any entry barriers for these awards, and they think anyone has a shot at winning if they put in the hard work."

"While it was big news that 'Squid Game' became the first South Korean drama to win an Emmy, many South Koreans weren't as surprised by such triumphs as in the past," the article said. "The news was still on the front pages of the internet editions of major South Korean media outlets, but not at the top, which was dominated by domestic politics."

In its article headlined "Netflix's Megahit 'Squid Game' Makes History at Emmy Awards," Bloomberg added, "Netflix Inc.'s 'Squid Game' made history as the first foreign-language drama to win top honors at the television industry's Emmy Awards."

The BBC of the U.K. also ran an article with the headline "Emmy Awards: Squid Game's Lee Jung-jae is first Asian to win best drama actor."

The Los Angeles Times, based in the city where the Emmy ceremony was held, said in its article headlined "How 'Squid Game' made history multiple times over at the Emmys," "One of Netflix's most watched shows, 'Squid Game' has already been greenlighted for a second season, so it will have a chance to increase its Emmy take in the future."

jihlee08@korea.kr