The opening scene of Squid Game became instantly iconic: 456 players standing in a field, a giant doll with sensors for eyes, and a haunting children's song that means death for anyone who moves. But before it was a Netflix phenomenon, "무궁화 꽃이 피었습니다" was just a schoolyard game that every Korean child knew.
The Korean Children's Game Explained
In Korea, this game is known as "무궁화 꽃이 피었습니다" (mugunghwa kkoci pieot seumnida), which translates to "The Mugunghwa flower has bloomed." The Mugunghwa (Rose of Sharon) is Korea's national flower, symbolizing the Korean people's resilience.
How to Play the Original: 1. One person is "it" and faces a wall or tree 2. Other players line up at a distance 3. "It" calls out "무궁화 꽃이 피었습니다" while others advance 4. On the final syllable, "it" turns around quickly 5. Anyone caught moving must return to start (or hold hands with "it") 6. First person to tag "it" wins and becomes "it" for the next round
The game teaches children body control, patience, and quick reflexes—the same skills tested in the show, just without lethal consequences.
How to Pronounce It
무궁화 꽃이 피었습니다 is pronounced: "moo-goong-hwa kkoh-chee pee-ut-seum-nee-da"
- 무궁화 (mugunghwa) = The Mugunghwa flower
- 꽃이 (kkoci) = flower (with subject marker)
- 피었습니다 (pieot seumnida) = has bloomed (formal)
The phrase takes about 5 seconds to say at normal speed, which determines how long players have to move. The show's doll speeds through it increasingly fast as tension builds.
Young-hee: The Giant Doll
The 4-meter-tall doll that became Squid Game's most recognizable image is named Young-hee (영희). Her design is based on characters from Korean elementary school textbooks from the 1970s-80s, giving older viewers an unsettling nostalgia.
- Orange shirt and yellow top typical of that era's children's book illustrations
- Pigtails with elastic bands
- Rosy cheeks and simple features
- Motion-sensor eyes that detect movement
- Head rotation mechanism
The production team reportedly found inspiration from Chulsoo and Younghee, famous characters in Korean textbooks similar to "Dick and Jane" in America.
Global Impact & Real-Life Recreations
After Squid Game's release, "Red Light, Green Light" events popped up worldwide:
- Abu Dhabi created a massive installation with the doll
- Sydney held public games in parks
- Philippines schools banned the game after children began playing violent versions
- TikTok saw millions of videos of people recreating the scene
The game transcended language barriers because the core mechanic—freeze when someone looks—is universal. Nearly every culture has a version: "Statues" in the UK, "Un, Deux, Trois, Soleil" in France, "Daruma-san ga Koronda" in Japan.
Play Our Version
Experience the tension without the danger. Our Red Light, Green Light game captures the essence of the show: the doll turns, you freeze, timing is everything. Build your streak, climb the leaderboard, and see if you have what it takes to survive—digitally, at least.
Play Red Light, Green Light Now
Experience this game yourself - can you survive?