K* Living

Dalgona Game
(달고나 놀이) :
A Sweet Test of Skill

The Dalgona Game, once a nostalgic treat from Korea’s streets, has gained international fame, thanks to the hit series Squid Game. In this challenge, players must carefully carve a pre-stamped shape—such as a star or umbrella—from brittle sugar candy using a needle or toothpick. The objective is simple but nerve-wracking: extract the shape without breaking the delicate candy. While failure results in a shattered dalgona, success brings both pride and often a sweet reward. The Dalgona Game is more than a test of patience and precision; it’s a symbol of childhood memories for many Koreans.
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Marbles Game
(구슬치기):
A Strategic Classic

Marbles, or Guseul Chigi, is a game of precision and strategy often played outdoors. Players flick their “shooter” marble to hit target marbles, either knocking them out of a circle or reaching a designated goal. The game requires both skill and tactical thinking, as players aim to claim the most marbles or achieve the agreed-upon objective. Popular among children for generations, marbles represent a timeless pastime that remains accessible and engaging.

Squid Game
(오징어 놀이):
Multiplayer Game

A game of offense and defense using a squid-shaped board drawn in the dirt. Squid Game (Ojingeo Nori) is named after the shape of its board, which looks like a squid, with characteristic circles, triangles, and squares. The number of players varies from eight to 10 in most cases, and up to 20 if there are more players to participate on a bigger board. The board favors the offense over the defense based on its structure. Although the shape of the board may vary, the way of drawing it is similar, as described below, along with the method of game play.

First, players divide themselves into two teams and play Gawi Bawi Bo to determine the order of the offensive and defensive. The offense goes to the house at the top of the drawing while the defense goes to the body of the squid.
The offense has to hop on one foot outside of their base until they cross the narrow “river” in the middle. Beyond this point, they can walk on both feet, which is not only convenient, but also provides an advantage to the offense over the defense. In this regard, the defense should strictly guard and defend the river so that no one from the offense is allowed to cross over.
However, players may be out or disqualified if one of the following happens. Once a player dies, the player has to go outside the board and wait until the game is over:
① Stepping on a line / Standing on two feet when a player has to hop on one foot.
② Standing on two feet when a player has to hop on one
③ Touching the ground with hands after falling when a player is using two feet.
④ Being dragged into the opponents’ territory over a line.
The best strategy to win for the offense is to come out of their base, cross the “river” by hopping to acquire the right to walk on two feet, and go through the opening at the bottom to step on a point called mansetong. The defense can stand on two feet inside the body of the squid. However, they need to jump using one foot outside of it, unlike the offensive team. If the offense is able to get all of the members of the defense disqualified, or if at least one offender comes into contact with the mansetong, the offense wins and continues to attack during the next round. On the other hand, if the defense is able to get every player on the offense disqualified, the defense wins and takes the offensive position in the next round. As a new round begins, all the disqualified players are allowed to participate once again.

_{Source - Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Culture, 한국민속대백과사전, 공공누리}

Ttakjichigi
(딱지치기):
Flip the Enemy's Paper Card

A game taking each other’s ttakji made of paper by hitting and flipping them over on the ground.Ttakjis (flat and square game pieces) were mostly made with many types of paper.
The shapes were square or rectangular, and the sizes varied upon the individual making it. Ttakjis made of big and thick paper were called wangttakji (a giant ttakji) and were considered more valuable in gameplay.

There are many unique ways to play Ttakjichigi in each region as described below:
① Neomgyeomeokgi (Flipping): Players decide the order to play with a round Gawi Bawi Bo. The losers place their ttakji on the ground, while the winner tries to get them to flip over by hitting them. The player that flips over the other players’ ttakji takes it.
② Nallyeomeokgi (Throwing): Players hold and throw a ttakji with one hand, and the one to throw it the farthest takes the other players’ ttakji. Another way to play this version is by drawing a line on the ground and throwing a ttakji to fall precisely on it to take the other players’ ttakji.
③ Byeokchigi (Hitting a Wall): Players strike ttakji on a wall and the one whose ttakji bounces back the farthest takes the other players’ ttakji.
④ Mireonaegi (Pushing out): Players draw a circle on the ground and place a ttakji inside it.
They can place one ttakji per each player, or set a higher amount to place per player before starting the game. Players win the other players’ ttakji by striking down other players’ ttakji and pushing them out of the circle.
Players striking down their ttakji and leaving them in the circle by mistake lose them as well.

Besides the square ttakji made by children themselves, round ttakji sold at stationery stores were quite popular as well. To win or lose a round ttakji felt even more significant because children had to pay for them. Popular cartoon characters of the times were drawn on most of the round ttakji. The round ones were loved nationwide from the 1970s to 1990s, before declining in popularity as children did not value ttakjis anymore. The small and lightweight properties of the round ttakjis often led to children applying different playstyles with them, like hitting and flipping over square ttakjis.Ttakjichigi was mostly played by boys in yards or empty lots, by two or more people. The shapes of ttakjis varied between either a square, triangular, or circle. Today, the game is not played anymore due to the decrease of value in paper, and without that value, children no longer would treat them with care. Instead, metal or plastic ttakjis are popular among today’s children.

_{Source - Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Culture, 한국민속대백과사전, 공공누리}