--- title: "North Korea: Squid Game Is Proof Capitalism Doesn’t Work" description: "North Korean propaganda website Arirang Meari wrote in a post that Netflix's \"Squid Game\" proves that South Korea-style capitalism doesn't work." date: "2021-10-14" modified: "2021-10-14" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/north-korea-squid-game-capitalism" categories: - "Future Society" tags: - "capitalism" - "netflix" - "north korea" - "South Korea" - "squid game" - "the digest" --- # North Korea: Squid Game Is Proof Capitalism Doesn’t Work ![North Korean propaganda website Arirang Meari wrote in a post that Netflix's "Squid Game" proves that South Korea-style capitalism doesn't work.]() *\Image: Netflix\* ## Squid Game North Korean propaganda website Arirang Meari [wrote on Tuesday]() that Netflix's megahit TV show "Squid Game" proves once and for all that South Korea-style capitalism doesn't work. "It is said that it makes people realize the sad reality of the beastly South Korean society in which human beings are driven into extreme competition and their humanity is being wiped out," a short article posted on the website reads, as [translated by *Reuters*](). The hit show, which pits deeply indebted contestants against each other in brutal and often deadly childhood games, has become an international sensation. But it's still fictional — and though it is clearly a critique of some aspects of capitalism, the main themes leave plenty of room for interpretation. ## Anti-Capitalism According to *Reuters*, North Koreans caught watching South Korean media could end up getting a 15 year sentence to work in a prison camp, which makes the propaganda website's comments at least somewhat ironic given the predicament of the contestants on the show. Many have fled the totalitarian state in search of a better life. The country has faced widespread food shortages and [poverty is common](). At the same time, the website does have a point — "Squid Game" could easily be interpreted as exposing the dangerous outcomes of living in a society driven by wealth and debt. "It is the current South Korean society where the number of losers in fierce competitions, such as employment, real estate and stocks, increases dramatically," reads another part of the post, as [translated by *Gizmodo*](). The show demonstrates "the reality of living in a world where people are judged only by money." So why punish those who would want to watch "Squid Game" in North Korea? In many ways, it'd make for some great anti-capitalist propaganda. **READ MORE:** [It's an allegory: N.Korea website says 'Squid Game' reflects S.Korea's 'beastly' society]() **More on North Korea:** *[Crypto Dev Thrown in Jail for Checking His Coinbase Account]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()