Squid Game Saves Seoul’s Sewing Scene
Picture a 500‑square‑metre factory in Seoul’s Seongbuk district buzzing like a hive of bees, with green and pink threads whipping from spools and serger machines clacking away. That’s the scene at the place where Made in Korea tracksuits are coming to life—thanks to a Netflix binge‑worthy hit that’s got the whole world talking.
Manager’s Market‑Minded Mishap
- Kim Jin‑ja (54) says October usually pulls back in the sewing game, but this year the show and the spooky season forced her to crank up production.
- She’s already sewn 6,000 teal‑green tracksuits for kids, each one a little piece of the Squid Game craze.
- After Covid‑19 hit, her revenue dropped to a third – 1.5 billion won (about S$1.7 million). Many of her orders were from Japan, but the travel snippets in 2020‑21 shut her doors for August and September.
- Now, she’s hoping the wave will ride past Halloween and that the “Made in Korea” banner will give her an extra boost of export confidence.
Why the Industry’s in a Pimp‑affle
Even before the pandemic, higher wages in Korea made it tough to compete with China, Vietnam, and Indonesia – the big three in apparel production. Micro‑dressers and giant factories alike were feeling the squeeze.
Only 1 of 7 Businesses Are Apparel
There are 2,144 manufacturing enterprises in Seongbuk. A whopping 70 % (1,510) of them are clothing companies. When the local mayor, Lee Seung‑ro, pointed out that COVID tightened domestic fashion, he also highlighted how Squid Game has turned the tide—by making tracksuits suddenly cool, so people start curling up, buying them, and sending them back overseas.
Market Mayhem & A Retail Rumble
In the bustling Namdaemun Market, a child’s Squid Game tracksuit sold for 30,000 won. Vendors admitted there were simply no tracksuits ready to keep up with the craze—stacks of orders arriving faster than a kid can say “It’s a trap!”
Netflix Numbers
- Squid Game has been watched by 142 million households since its opening in September 2021.
- Netflix grew by 4.38 million new subscribers—a sweet spot for advertisers and Glam‑Suits alike.
What might surprise you is that many small business owners in Korea can see themselves in the show’s characters—a drama where determination is currency, and the stakes are a whopping $38 million. It’s a stark reminder that behind every “$ for life” scheme lies a debt trap the same folks are memorising in their own tight budgets.
Where Do They Go From Here?
With Halloween just around the corner, kitcreators are hoping the demand will keep rolling and that “Made in Korea” stickers will earn a repeat of the global crush. One thing’s for sure—when the world wants a splash of Kasih’s iconic tracksuits, Seoul’s workers have the craft to keep the edition running.
