South Koreans congratulated the cast and crew of Squid Game on social media following its multiple Emmy Awards victories, but the response remained low-key. The country appears to be adjusting to its rising prominence in international entertainment. The wins were announced at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards held on September 12, 2022, in Los Angeles.
The 74th Primetime Emmy Awards took place on September 12, 2022, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, where the South Korean Netflix series Squid Game secured several prestigious honors. Among the winners were actor Lee Jung-jae, who received the Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a drama series, and director Hwang Dong-hyuk, awarded for outstanding directing for a drama series. The duo posed together in the press room after their victories, as captured in an Associated Press photo.
News of these achievements reached South Korea the following day, prompting shares of congratulations across social media platforms on Tuesday, September 13, 2022. However, the overall public reaction was described as subdued. This tempered response reflects South Korea's growing familiarity with its expanding influence in global entertainment, moving beyond initial waves of national excitement toward a more normalized acceptance of such successes.
Squid Game, which premiered in 2021, has marked a significant milestone for South Korean content on the world stage, contributing to the country's burgeoning reputation in streaming and awards circuits. The Asahi Shimbun, reporting via the Associated Press from Seoul on September 14, 2022, highlighted this shift, noting that while celebrations occurred online, they lacked the fervor seen in earlier breakthroughs for Korean media abroad.
