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| A pop-up replica set of Netflix's original Korean series "Squid Game" at Itaewon Station in Seoul / Screenshot from Netflix Korea's Facebook |
By Jun Ji-hye
A pop-up replica set of Netflix's original Korean series "Squid Game," which was set up at Itaewon Station in central Seoul, closed down earlier than scheduled due to mounting concerns over a spike in COVID-19 infections here.
According to Seoul Metro, the pop-up set, operated by Netflix Korea, closed on Friday after drawing large crowds on the back of the growing popularity of the Korean drama.
The set was scheduled to be open until Sunday.
"The operator of the set made the decision as concerns over violations of social distancing rules have been raised," a Seoul Metro official said.
The pop-up set opened on Sept. 5 to promote "Squid Game," offering visitors a glimpse of the survival games played by 456 people in the drama.
According to streaming analytics company FlixPatrol, Saturday, "Squid Game" ranked No. 1 on Netflix's global TV show list on Thursday and Friday, becoming the first Korean drama series to achieve the feat on the streaming platform.
The 9-episode series, which was released on Sept. 17 and has been available in 83 countries, beat the popular British series, "Sex Education."
"Squid Game" centers on the story of 456 people playing life-or-death games on an uninhabited island to win 45.6 billion won ($38.7 million) in prize money.
Korea reported a fresh high of 3,273 COVID-19 infections, Friday, amid mounting concerns that millions of people traveling across the country during the Chuseok holiday had fueled a greater spread of the virus.
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