What's dalgona, the South Korean sweet seen in 'Squid Game' that's become a global craze?

The Netflix show has become a viral hit by depicting childhood games with deadly consequences

Youngyu Park in the show 'Squid Game'. Photo: Netflix

An Yong-hui, 37, has been making dalgona for the past eight years in a university district in the capital Seoul. Reuters

An and his co-workers used 15 kg of sugar to make 700 candies for the filming in June 2020 of the show's third episode, which is described by Netflix as equal parts 'sweet and deadly'. Reuters

As the show's popularity has surged since its premiere last month, An hasn't been able to go home for a week in order to meet the demand from eager 'Squid Game' fans that start queuing up outside his two-square-metre street kitchen at 11am. Reuters

For South Koreans, dalgona sellers were a fixture in front of schools until the early 2000s but the trend has died down since then. Reuters

One piece is about 2,000 South Korean won ($1.68) but you can get a buy-one-get-one-free deal if you don't crack the first one. Reuters

Dalgona is typically sold with a variety of shapes but Squid Game featured four, a triangle, circle, star and an umbrella. Reuters

People in Seoul are now rushing to buy dalgona candy. Reuters

'Squid Game' TV series has gained a fan following around the world. Reuters

'Squid Game' has given a deadly twist to children's playground games. Photo: Netflix

Netflix chief executive Ted Sarandos has said 'Squid Game' is well on its way to becoming the streaming platform's most-watched show ever. Photo: Netflix

In the show, debt-laden contestants vie for a prize of 45.6 billion won ($38.40 million) by competing in games that recall a more idyllic pre-digital time, overseen by masked enforcers. Photo: Netflix

A South Korean sweet featured as one of the lethal challenges in the Netflix hit TV series Squid Game has become a global craze, boosting business for the candy seller who provided the confection for the show.

The show has become a viral hit by depicting childhood games with deadly consequences. One of the challenges has the cash-strapped contestants on the show carving out the symbol etched into a sugar candy called dalgona without cracking the whole piece or risk being shot by masked enforcers.

Dalgona is typically sold with a variety of shapes but Squid Game featured four, a triangle, circle, star and an umbrella. One piece is about 2,000 South Korean won ($1.68) but you can get a buy-one-get-one-free deal if you don't crack the first one.

An Yong-hui, 37, has been making dalgona for the past eight years in a university district in the capital Seoul. He and his co-workers used 15 kg of sugar to make 700 candies for the filming in June 2020 of the show's third episode, which is described by Netflix as equal parts "sweet and deadly."

A street vendor sells dalgona candy made famous in the Korean Netflix series 'Squid Game' in Seoul. Reuters

As the show's popularity has surged since its premiere last month, An hasn't been able to go home for a week in order to meet the demand from eager Squid Game fans that start queuing up outside his two-square-metre street kitchen at 11am.

He now sells more than 500 dalgonas a day from less than 200 before the show's premiere.

"We are thinking we should place a rifle here as well," An said, chuckling at his reference to the show's outsized repercussions for failure.

On Monday, while unveiling a list of its most popular content at an event in Los Angeles, Netflix chief executive Ted Sarandos said Squid Game was well on its way to becoming the streaming platform's most-watched show ever.

Kitschy period drama Bridgerton currently holds that position, with more than 82 million accounts watching the show. Extraction, starring Chris Hemsworth, is the most popular film, at 99 million.

On the show, the downtrodden contestants vie for a prize of 45.6 billion won by competing in games that recall a more idyllic pre-digital time.

Netflix said in an article on the show's creation that director Hwang Dong-hyuk's selection of childhood games was deliberate to make the show more relatable to the audience.

For South Koreans, dalgona sellers were a fixture in front of schools until the early 2000s but the trend has died down since then and according to An the candy is even older.

"I have heard so much about the dalgona challenge from my dad and grandma and was always curious," said Lee You-hee, a university freshman in Seoul.

"It was my first time trying and was shocked at how easily it breaks!" she said after failing the challenge while standing near An's stand.

In line with the show's viral explosion, international viewers are posting their efforts at making dalgona and passing the challenge on video-sharing platform TikTok and other social media.

Even e-commerce marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay and Coupang are selling dalgona cooking kits and tools for as much as $29.99.