The Netflix Korean drama “Squid Game 2,” starring Lee Jung-jae and Lee Byung-hun, skyrocketed to the top of the global hit series list within three days of its release on December 26, 2024. It set a new record for Netflix’s global first-week box office. However, its high popularity has also attracted piracy, especially in China where Netflix is not available, leading to rampant illegal distribution. In response, Professor Seo Kyung-deok from Korea Integrity Women’s University criticized the Chinese audience’s habitual viewing of pirated content, stating that they lack any sense of shame.
Following the piracy issues faced by the first season of “Squid Game,” the second season of the series has encountered similar problems in China. On the Chinese social platform Douban, which does not have access to Netflix, there are numerous ratings and comments on “Squid Game 2,” with an estimated 60,000 comments suggesting that viewers have watched the show through illegal means.
“Squid Game 2” continues the storyline from the first season, focusing on Seong Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae) who emerged victorious from the deadly game three years prior. Planning to leave the country before his plans change at the last minute, he decides to once again participate in this mysterious survival game. Risking his life once more, he not only faces off against the masked man played by Lee Byung-hun but also competes with a new group of participants for a prize of up to 456 billion South Korean won.
According to Netflix’s announcement on January 1, 2025, “Squid Game 2” has not only become the top-viewed show in 92 countries where the streaming service is available, marking Netflix’s highest viewership in the first week of a self-produced series. It surpassed the 50.1 million viewership record set by the horror comedy “Wednesday” in 2022 and climbed to the seventh spot on Netflix’s non-English series viewing list within just three days of its release, setting a new viewership record for Netflix.
Professor Seo Kyung-deok expressed his dismay on Instagram on December 31, 2024, stating, “The highly anticipated Netflix series ‘Squid Game 2’ is once again being illegally viewed in China.” He pointed out, “Just like during the release of ‘Squid Game’ season one, ‘watching thieves’ has become a common practice in China.” He further added, “What is even more surprising is their lack of shame.”
Seo Kyung-deok also criticized China for freely using the image rights of Korean stars, producing and selling counterfeit goods for profit while the Chinese authorities turn a blind eye. Korean netizens also condemned such actions, likening them to those of thieves.