The Netflix drama "Square," based on a popular webtoon and featuring actor So Ji-sub's comeback, continues to draw significant interest in its second week since release. On the 18th, it topped the Netflix non-English series category and recorded 7.6 million viewership (the number of viewers divided by the total running time of the work).
The drama "Square," released by Netflix on the 6th, is based on a popular webtoon of the same name. In the original work, the protagonist Nam Ki-joon retires after reaching the peak of the underworld by severing his Achilles’ heel. Following the death of his brother Nam Ki-seok, who was the second in command of the rival organization, he seeks revenge by uncovering the reasons behind his brother's death. In the drama, Ki-joon, played by So Ji-sub, also fights for revenge for Ki-seok (Lee Jun-hyuk), but the detailed settings and story developments differ from the original.
So Ji-sub's gritty action is captivating many viewers, but among those who watched the webtoon first, there are concerns that the essence of the original might have been lost. The meaning of "Square" bestowed in the original has vanished, and there isn't a clear symbol presented in the drama to replace it. This is also why it wouldn’t feel out of place even if the drama was titled "Field" instead of "Square."
In the original work, "Square" is not merely a simple place where organizations fought over interests in front of the National Assembly building in Yeouido. The square is a space where violence, politics, and capital intertwine, giving rise to shadow power through Ki-joon's actions, drawing political and business figures to the square, allowing the underground gangsters to build up legitimate corporations. It served as a stage for informal power. The ugly desires and raw amusements within chaos were refined into order by Ki-joon.
In the drama, the meaning of the square is ambiguous. Director Choi Sung-eun, in an interview with the media, noted, "I am well aware of the disappointing reactions from original fans," adding that while in the original the 'square' referred to a place, in the series it was expanded to denote the dark underworld.
In reinterpreting the characters, the presence of more complex and irreplaceable characters like Choi Sung-cheol (Jo Han-chul) has also diminished. In the original, he viewed 'order' and their 'promises' as devices supporting the organization’s rules, which perpetrated violence and murder. He suppressed subordinates who defied order and confronted his boss with an axe for breaking promises. Thanks to a charisma based on principles, he was regarded as 'real,' trusted from above and esteemed from below.
In the drama, Sung-cheol is portrayed as a flat character who prioritizes the organization. He is depicted as a key figure solely focused on the organization's prosperity and survival. There is little evidence of his own loyalty or principles; he appears merely as a being dedicated to protecting the boss, like many others in the organization.
The drama imbues brotherly love in a place where symbolism has been diluted. Ki-seok struggles to protect his beloved brother while getting entangled in someone else's conspiracy, and Ki-joon fights and fights again for his only brother. Director Choi also responded to a request to sum up the drama in one sentence by saying it is "a story born from a deep love for family."
On the 'Square,' where different expectations and interpretations intersect, stories do not converge into one. How it is received and remembered entirely depends on the viewer's perspective. While it lacks the deep and profound resonance left by the original, how the drama's own sentiment engages with a global audience is one of its unique charms.