Pusan National University Analyzes 'Squid Game' Character Traits Through Korean Medicine Research

Seong Gihoon is Soyangin, Jo Sangwoo is Soeumin

Sasang Personality Test: Global Universal Psychological Analysis

As the globally popular Netflix series "Squid Game" gears up for the release of its second season this December, a scientific paper analyzing the psychological and physical characteristics of the show's characters has drawn attention.

Pusan National University (President Choi Jaewon) announced on the 14th that a research team led by Professor Chae Han from the Department of Korean Medicine has published a study in the international journal "Behavioral Sciences," analyzing how the psychological and physical traits of five characters from "Squid Game" are perceived by the general public.

"Squid Game (2019)" is a Korean survival drama that gained explosive popularity worldwide. It tells the story of 456 participants facing life-or-death games due to economic hardship, combining diverse characters with social messages. It became the first non-English work to win the prestigious Primetime Emmy Award in the United States. Riding on its global popularity, the second season is set to premiere on December 26.

Recently, Korean pop music, films, and dramas have received worldwide attention. However, the consciousness and identity of Koreans as depicted in the media have rarely been explained from a uniquely Korean perspective.

In response, the Pusan National University research team analyzed the psychological and physical characteristics of five characters from "Squid Game" using the physiological-psychological theories and clinical tests of Korean medicine. Scientifically analyzing the main characters of a global Korean drama through uniquely Korean theories holds significant meaning in the field of media psychology, which studies the sociocultural value of the Korean Wave.

In this study, the team analyzed the psychological and physical traits of the male characters Seong Gihun, Cho Sangwoo, and Jang Deoksu, as well as the female characters Han Minyeo and Kang Saebyeok. For psychological characteristics, they used the Sasang Personality Questionnaire (SPQ), which diagnoses Yin-Yang psychology and Sasang typology. For physical characteristics, they used Body Mass Index (BMI) to measure body type and obesity.

SPQ and BMI are scientific clinical tests actively used in Korean medicine and were also applied by the research team in previous analyses of animation (Pororo) and game (Overwatch) characters.

The analysis found that Seong Gihun and Han Minyeo were Soyang types, Cho Sangwoo and Kang Saebyeok were Soeum types, and Jang Deoksu was a Taeeum type, each displaying very distinct physical and psychological characteristics.

Seong Gihun and Cho Sangwoo, with their contrasting traits, maintained a tense storyline until the end. Seong Gihun, as a mature Soyang type, garnered empathy from viewers as the protagonist, while Cho Sangwoo, through the actions and emotions of an immature Soeum type, portrayed a rival who ultimately had to lose to the main character.

Additionally, Kang Saebyeok, as a mature Soeum type, became a character with whom viewers could empathize, while Han Minyeo, as an immature Soyang type, heightened the tension of the story through her contrasting personality and actions.

The research team demonstrated that applying Korea's unique biopsychosocial theories to modern media psychology allows for the scientific analysis of nuanced and complex characters. They showed that Yin-Yang psychology and Sasang typology are useful for creating realistic characters and engaging drama narratives that immerse viewers.

This study was conducted with Professor Chae Han of Pusan National University as the corresponding author, fourth-year student So Seogyeong as the first author, and Professor Lee Sujin of Kyungsung University’s Department of Psychology as a co-corresponding author. It was published online in the SSCI-indexed international journal "Behavioral Sciences" on October 8 under the title "Analyses of Physical and Psychological Characteristics of Squid Game Characters Using East Asian Biopsychosocial Personality Theories and Body Mass Index."

Professor Chae Han of Pusan National University’s Department of Korean Medicine stated, "This study empirically demonstrates that Korea’s unique biopsychosocial theories and knowledge can be applied not only to clinical diagnosis and treatment but also to diverse fields such as media psychology. The Sasang Personality Questionnaire, a clinical psychological test developed for Yin-Yang psychology and Sasang medicine, has now paved the way for expanding into the humanities and social sciences beyond traditional medicine."

Professor Lee Sujin of Kyungsung University’s Department of Psychology said, "By examining the characteristics of drama (Squid Game) characters using the Sasang Personality Questionnaire, following previous studies on animation (Pororo) and game (Overwatch) characters, we confirmed universal psychological traits that span the globe. Furthermore, we achieved results by discovering characteristics of SPQ subtypes that had not been identified in previous studies. We plan to continue exploring these traits in local communities and clinical groups in the future."

First author So Seogyeong, a student at Pusan National University’s Department of Korean Medicine, said, "I found it fascinating to analyze the physical and psychological traits of globally popular drama characters using objective standard indicators and Yin-Yang theory from East Asian medicine. Just as this study analyzed characters based on their constitutional traits, I aim to provide personalized care that considers patients’ personalities and psychological states, and to become a Korean medicine doctor who approaches people more closely by applying Sasang medicine and Korean medicine in various fields."

(From left) Professor Hanh Chan, Busan National University; Professor Sujin Lee, Kyungsung University; First author Seogyeong So, student in the Department of Medical Science, Busan National University.