Korean Language Professor Breaks Down SQUID GAME's Subtitles

Squid Game is a cultural phenomenon that came out of nowhere. The Korean Netflix show exploded in popularity seemingly overnight. But did the non Korean speaking watchers really get the right translations? There has been criticism of the dub and subtitles accuracy.

Now you can watch the Korean English professor and director of the Korean Language Program at Columbia University, Joowon Suh, breakdown two major parts of the language, the honorifics and the swearing. It’s really interesting listening to her because there is so much nuance that really can’t be expressed in subtitles alone.

For example, there is a character with a poor background that is partly expressed in how she speaks. There’s just no great way to really convey this in the subtitles, so having someone with a deep understanding of the language tell you about it adds another layer of depth to the character.

If you enjoyed Squid Game or even if you just like learning about language translation, check out this video.