Analyses of Physical and Psychological Characteristics of “Squid Game” Characters Using East Asian Biopsychosocial Personality Theories and Body Mass Index

- Analyzing Characters through Traditional Korean Medicine

- Using the Sasang Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) for Global Psychological Traits

Following the release of its second season on December 26, 2024, the globally popular Netflix series remains in the spotlight. Professor Chae's research team from Pusan National University has published a notable paper analyzing the psychological and physical characteristics of characters in , applying theories of traditional Korean medicine.

The study highlights the psychological and physical traits of five main characters Seong Gi-hun, Cho Sang-woo, Jang Deok-su, Han Mi-nyeo, and Kang Sae-byeok using the Sasang Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) and Body Mass Index (BMI). These tools have proven effective in previous studies, including character analyses in animations and video games.

Results identified Seong Gi-hun and Han Mi-nyeo as So-Yang (SY) type, Cho Sang-woo and Kang Sae-byeok as So-Eum (SE) type, and Jang Deok-su as Tae-Eum (TE) type. The contrasting traits between characters like Seong Gi-hun, a mature SY type, and Cho Sang-woo, an immature SE type, intensified the drama's tension and engagement.

The research underscores the relevance of Eum-Yang psychology and Sasang typology in crafting realistic and compelling characters, enriching media psychology through Korea’s unique biopsychosocial personality theories.

The findings were published in the Behavioral Sciences with the title "Analyses of Physical and Psychological Characteristics of ‘Squid Game’ Characters Using East Asian Biopsychosocial Personality Theories and Body Mass Index," with Professor Chae as the corresponding author (https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14100907). This study highlights the expansion of traditional medical theories into broader fields like humanities and social sciences, demonstrating the broader application potential of Sasang Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) beyond traditional medicine.

Professor Chae emphasized the study’s role in validating the broad utility of indigenous theories in diverse disciplines. So Seo-kyung, the first author and a graduate student at Pusan National University, remarked on the excitement of applying traditional Korean medical theories to analyze globally recognized characters, aspiring to integrate these practices into personalized care and make traditional Korean medicine more accessible across various fields.

* Reference 

- Author(Pusan National University): Prof. Han Chae (School of Korean Medicine) 

- Title of original paper: Analyses of Physical and Psychological Characteristics of “Squid Game” Characters Using East Asian Biopsychosocial Personality Theories and Body Mass Index 

- Journal: Behavioral Sciences

- DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14100907