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Sweet South-Korean import: Understanding 'dalgona' candy’s popularity in Indonesia
A South-Korean treat and game finds popularity globally, including here, after featuring on Netflix's 'Squid Game'
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Fun times: Customers of all ages visit St. James Cafe & Mart to play the dalgona game (Courtesy of St. James Cafe & Mart) (Personal collection/Courtesy of St. James Cafe _ Mart)
S
em>Squid Game, the South Korean show that debuted in September on the streaming platform Netflix garnered massive attention upon its release from viewers across the globe, including Indonesia. It featured various traditional Korean games, including the dalgona game.
#SquidGame was one of the most talked-about hashtags under the K-Culture category in 2021, according to data collected by Twitter Indonesia, alongside the show Hometown ChaChaCha and various K-Pop groups.
Many of the games on the show are based on traditional South Korean childhood games. One of them is the dalgona game, which is centered around a time-honored delicacy of the same name. It is a type of honeycomb toffee candy, usually round and flat, with a simple pattern pressed into its surface.
"Dalgona is a sweet street treat made of sugar and baking soda," said Crisnova “Kris” Arnas Clara, a Korean Studies graduate from the University of Indonesia, dalgona is cheap and it was popular among children in the 1970s and 80s.
"What made this candy stand out is how the sellers would come up with a challenge [which is how the game came to be] — anyone who was able to carve it based on the shape [a pattern made using a needle] could win prizes," added Kris. It is conceptually similar to katanuki, commonly encountered during traditional Japanese festivals.
Those who have watched Squid Game might have an inkling that while the game sounds simple, it is not at all easy to do. Dalgona is typically brittle, and carving the candy without breaking it requires skill and patience.
