“Following ‘Red Light, Green Light’ and the ‘Honeycomb Challenge,’ let’s take a closer look at the third game featured in Squid Game Season 1: Tug of War. Tug of War is a universally recognized game, making its origins and initial history difficult to pinpoint. However, in 2015, it was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, thanks to a joint nomination by South Korea, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.”
How to Play Tug of War
Tug of War requires no special equipment other than a rope. Depending on the number of participants, a sturdy and durable rope is used. A line is drawn on the ground at the midpoint of the rope, and the rope itself is marked at the center. Starting points are also marked approximately 1 meter from the center to ensure both teams pull from equal positions.
The number of participants on each side must be equal, whether it’s 5 vs. 5, 10 vs. 10, or 20 vs. 20. There’s no strict limit on the number of players, as long as the rope can handle the load, allowing large groups to join in. While there are no complex rules, the most common way to determine the winner is when one team pulls the center marker past the opponent’s starting point.
In Korea, Tug of War is often the highlight of group events like sports festivals. Despite its simplicity, the game demands a significant amount of strength, and after just one match, players often find themselves completely exhausted. It’s not only a game of brute strength but also strategy and teamwork. However, if the balance of power between teams is uneven, players may risk being pulled and even injured, making it important to match teams carefully.
Tug of War in Squid Game
Typically, teams with strong men and heavier members have the upper hand in Tug of War. However, the beauty of the game lies in how the right techniques can overturn the odds. In Gi-hun’s team during Squid Game, there are several women with less physical strength compared to their opponents and even the elderly Il-nam.
Before the game begins, Gi-hun’s team feels defeated, assuming they have no chance to win. But they listen closely to Il-nam, who, with his lifetime of experience, shares some key strategies for Tug of War.
First, he advises gripping the rope as tightly as possible to create a solid hold. Then, by leaning back and bending at the waist, the team can maintain a position where even the strongest opponents struggle to pull them forward.
Thanks to Il-nam’s wisdom and Sang-woo’s quick thinking—releasing the rope momentarily to break the opposing team’s balance—they manage to defeat their physically superior opponents and survive. This scene exemplifies how clever strategy and teamwork can triumph over brute strength, even in the direst situations.
Anyway
Tug of War has become a nostalgic game for Koreans, often played as a team-building activity during group events. Since it usually requires a large outdoor space and many participants, it’s not something we can easily enjoy anymore. Personally, I remember playing Tug of War during sports events in the military.
In my experience, the stronger the sense of teamwork a unit had, the better they synchronized their movements. Even if the team was made up of smaller or less physically imposing members, they could still defeat larger, more intimidating opponents by working together. I recall how winning those matches boosted morale and created a sense of unity among everyone.
While all you technically need to play Tug of War is a rope, it’s also a game where safety matters. It’s easy to injure your hands while pulling, so gloves are recommended, and having a referee is important to ensure fair play and prevent accidents.
