For non-Korean viewers, many of the children’s games horrifyingly showcased in Netflix’s Squid Game were new. Not to fans of Run BTS, though. The long-running variety show regularly sees the seven members of global sensation BTS partake in a diverse offering of silly games and competitions—as befits any Korean variety show worth its salt. If you’re looking for a more light-hearted introduction to the world of Korean children’s games or an excuse to rewatch some of the best episodes of Run BTS, then check out these installments in which the members play games also featured in Squid Game…
Episode 40: New Year Red Light, Green Light
In Squid Game, Red Light, Green Light is a fatal affair. In Run BTS, the winning team gets to eat tteokguk, aka rice-cake soup, and the losing team… does not. Part of the show’s 2018 Lunar New Year Special, the episode features the group wearing traditional hanbok, playing a variety of silly games, and practicing their calligraphy.
During the episode, the group plays an adapted game of Red Light, Green Light competition in which the “tagger” has to yell out “Happy New Year” instead of “Red Light” and the “runners” have to bow after every step. For professional dancers and performers, BTS’ athleticism doesn’t always translate into being good at games or sports… but they’re pretty great at New Year-edition Red Light, Green Light.
Episode 128: Red Light, Green Light With Cushions
This entire episode of Run BTS, shot during the pandemic and showcasing games you are able to play from the comfort of your own home, is hilarious, but the Red Light, Green Light section starts a little past the 24-minute mark. In an attempt to adapt Red Light, Green Light for home play, the Run BTS producers have the members play while on the floor, with cushions, leading to some… creative solutions. This was when Suga was out recovering from shoulder surgery, so an additional component to this game involved snatching the Suga picture from directly behind the “tagger” and scooting back to the startline before the “tagger” could catch you.