Screenshot related to ‘Squid Game 3′ on Douban, China’s largest review site (Image courtesy of Professor Seo Kyung-duk)
SEOUL, July 4 (Korea Bizwire) — As Squid Game Season 3 dominates global viewership charts, the series has once again sparked controversy in China, where Netflix is not officially available. Despite the platform’s absence, the latest season has garnered tens of thousands of reviews and ratings on Douban, China’s largest user-generated content site, pointing to widespread illegal viewership.
According to Douban, over 21,000 reviews had been posted as of July 3, just days after the show’s global premiere on June 27. More than 55,000 users participated in its star rating system, despite the lack of legal access to the series in China. This suggests that many Chinese viewers watched the show through unauthorized channels.
The recurring issue of illegal streaming in China has drawn renewed criticism. Seo Kyung-duk, a professor at Sungshin Women’s University in Seoul, condemned the practice in a social media post on July 4, calling it a “normalized behavior” that reflects a “lack of shame.” He urged Chinese authorities to step up enforcement against piracy and illegal streaming.
Previous seasons of Squid Game also suffered from rampant copyright violations in China, raising concerns about the protection of intellectual property as Korean content continues to gain global traction.
Meanwhile, Squid Game 3 has achieved unprecedented success. According to FlixPatrol, a site that tracks global streaming rankings, the show has held the No. 1 position in Netflix’s global TV category for five consecutive days across 93 countries, setting a new milestone in international streaming history.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
