'Squid Game' Popularity Knows No Bounds... US Critics Appear on News Wearing 'Green Tracksuits'

On the 8th (local time), Dr. Jason Johnson, a political commentator who appeared on the weekend program "The Beat" on the US MSNBC network, conducted news commentary dressed in an outfit similar to the green tracksuits worn by the participants in the Netflix drama "Squid Game."
[Photo by Instagram capture]

[Asia Economy Reporter Sumi Hwang] As the Netflix drama 'Ojingeo Game' (Squid Game) gains worldwide popularity, a U.S. political commentator has attracted attention by appearing on the news wearing a green tracksuit.

On the 8th (local time), Dr. Jason Johnson, a political commentator who appeared on the weekend program 'The Beat' on the U.S. MSNBC network, delivered news commentary dressed in an outfit similar to the green tracksuits worn by participants in Squid Game.

That day, Dr. Johnson wore a white shirt underneath with a neat tie, and instead of a suit jacket, he wore a tracksuit with white stripes running from the shoulder to the sleeves.

Regarding his outfit, he introduced it as "an homage to Squid Game." He then discussed issues related to wealth disparity and income inequality in the United States.

Dr. Johnson analyzed the popularity of Squid Game in the U.S. by saying, "Americans are drawn to a dystopian allegory about debt amid soaring inequality."

During the approximately three-minute broadcast, he alternated between scenes from Squid Game and data on U.S. income inequality while continuing his news commentary.

Dr. Johnson referenced the 'Pandora Papers,' which the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) revealed on the 3rd, exposing tax evasion and illegal activities by political leaders worldwide, emphasizing the worsening wealth gap.

He also pointed out that while marginalized groups and people with lower educational levels suffered greatly during the COVID-19 pandemic, the six major U.S. information technology (IT) companies led by Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg posted enormous profits.

Nevertheless, he criticized figures such as Mitch McConnell, the U.S. Senate Republican Leader, and Joe Manchin, a centrist Democratic senator, for opposing the expansion of social welfare budgets related to education and healthcare.

Dr. Johnson concluded the broadcast by asking, "Will Americans try to participate in their own Squid Game?"

Meanwhile, Squid Game depicts losers on the brink of life participating in a deadly game with a prize of 45.6 billion won, and the green tracksuit, one of the drama's symbols, has become extremely popular in the United States.