A 50-year-old South Korean filmmaker who has captured the world’s imagination with a dystopian survival drama that throws up uncomfortable questions about contemporary society has been named The Straits Times Asian of the Year.
Every year, the editors of The Straits Times pick a person, a group or an institution that in their judgment has significantly impacted Asia in the year past. Mr Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator of Squid Game, was chosen this year for an expression of creativity that, while fictional and not without flaws, holds up a useful mirror to society.
The Netflix series created by Mr Hwang has emerged as more than a mere television show, said the citation to the award.
The drama involves a group of people, caught in dire personal circumstances, who contest in a series of win-or-die games for a 456 billion won (S$529 million) cash prize.
“As social commentary, it has sparked soul-searching about capitalism, inequality and how societies treat the less fortunate. As a commercial enterprise, it makes a compelling case to Hollywood for the viability of non-English content... Above all, as a vehicle of soft power, it has taken South Korea’s global cultural influence, already high, to the next level,” said the citation.
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