"We're gganbu, aren't we?" With those words, Oh Il-nam (Player 001) transformed a children's game term into one of the most emotionally devastating moments in television history. But what does gganbu actually mean, and why did it resonate so deeply?
The Meaning of Gganbu (깐부)
Gganbu (깐부) is Korean slang that originated in children's marble games. It refers to a partner or close friend with whom you share everything—your marbles, your strategies, your wins and losses.
- Partners share marbles from a common pool
- There's no individual ownership—what's mine is yours
- Trust is absolute and unquestioned
- You win together or lose together
The term comes from the words "깐" (to peel/reveal) and "부" (partner), suggesting a relationship where nothing is hidden between friends.
How the Show Uses Gganbu
In Squid Game Episode 6, players are paired for the marble game. Il-nam, appearing confused and childlike, asks Gi-hun to be his gganbu—his partner who shares everything.
The devastating irony: in a gganbu relationship, there's no competition. What belongs to one belongs to both. By invoking this sacred childhood bond, Il-nam creates a paradox. How can you compete against someone when everything is shared?
Gi-hun's moral crisis stems from this. He's being asked to exploit the purest form of friendship to survive. When he finally "wins" by taking advantage of Il-nam's apparent dementia, viewers feel the weight of that betrayal—even though Il-nam was manipulating the situation all along.
Global Cultural Impact
- The term trended worldwide on Twitter
- Halloween costumes featured "gganbu" matching outfits
- The word was added to dictionary watch-lists
- Korean language apps reported spikes in "gganbu" searches
The term resonated because it names something universal—that childhood experience of absolute trust and shared fate that becomes rarer as we age. Squid Game weaponized nostalgia, and "gganbu" became its sharpest blade.
Related Korean Terms
If you're fascinated by Korean friendship concepts, here are related terms:
- 친구 (chingu): General word for friend
- 절친 (jeolchin): Best friend, short for "절친한 친구"
- 막역지우 (magyeokjiu): Literary term for inseparable friends
- 동무 (dongmu): Comrade/friend (more common in North Korea now)
None carry quite the same weight as gganbu—that specific childhood bond forged through shared games and absolute trust.
Play Marbles
Experience this game yourself - can you survive?