[Watch out for spoilers.] What does "One Lucky Day" mean in the last episode of the squid game?

Netflix's Korean drama "Squid Game" is gaining popularity around the world. It is an attractive drama that reinterprets the game that Koreans enjoyed when they were young as 'adult play' and tells a fresh and shocking story.

The last episode is titled 'One Lucky Day'. This title is a homage to the novel of the same nave. We would like to tell you why the title of the last episode is One Lucky Day and what it means.

1. What is the origin of 'One Lucky Day'?

One Lucky Day is the title of Hyun Jin-geon's short story 'One Lucky Day(운수 좋은 날, 1924)'.

The main character of this work, Kim Cheom-ji, is a poor rickshaw driver. He goes out to earn money without listening to his sick wife telling him not to go to work for just one day.

There were many customers using the rickshaw on this day, so he made a lot of money for one day. He went home after buying seolleeongtang, her favorite food, for his sick wife, but the wife had already passed away. Kim Cheom-ji, who was in sorrow, said, "Strangely, I was lucky today..." and the novel ends.

Contrary to the title 'One Lucky Day' has an ironic meaning because the novel ends with the main character facing the greatest tragedy.

2. How was it used in the drama 'Squid Game'?

Sung Ki-Hoon's mother was suffering from complications from diabetes. His mother was in such a serious condition that she had to receive treatment after being hospitalized, but she had to endure the pain and go to work due to difficult family circumstances. This situation becomes the decisive reason for Ki-hoon to participate in the game once again, returning home after giving up the game.

In the end, in a game that crosses life and death, Ki-hoon becomes the final winner. He returned home with a lot of money, but there was only the body of his mother, who had already died lonely in the house.

Isn't the content of the novel the same as the content of the drama? Because this way the author paid homage to the novel.

Since this novel is so famous among Koreans, many Koreans probably expected Ki-hoon's mother to have died as soon as they saw the title. However, those who do not know this novel must have wondered why the title of the last episode of the drama is One Lucky Day.

Today, we learned about the origin and meaning of the last episode title, One Lucky Day. I will end today's post with the hope that it will be helpful to those who want to enjoy the drama more.