The internet has given rise to a plethora of trends, challenges, and phenomena that have captivated audiences worldwide. One such phenomenon is the emergence of "Xia Qing Zi," a Chinese term that roughly translates to " underrated or unpopular," which has been linked to the global hit Netflix series "Squid Game." This article aims to explore the cultural significance of "Xia Qing Zi" in the context of Squid Game and its implications on social media.
"Squid Game" is a South Korean survival drama television series that premiered on Netflix in September 2021. Created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, the show follows a group of contestants who compete in a series of deadly games to win a grand prize of 45.6 billion won (approximately $38 million USD). The series became an instant hit, topping the charts in over 90 countries and breaking multiple records on the streaming platform.
Beyond her performance career, Xia Qingzi has leveraged her heightened public profile to challenge societal taboos surrounding adult performers in East Asia.
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The hero of “Xia Qing Zi Squid Game” would likely be a middle-aged former factory worker, laid off due to automation, now driving a food delivery e-bike. Unlike Seong Gi-hun, whose gambling addiction is a moral flaw, this protagonist’s debt stems from a medical emergency (a parent’s stroke) or a failed real estate scam. Their motivation is not glory but the desperate hope of regaining a lost middle-class dream : a rented apartment with a window, a child who can attend a public school. Supporting characters would include a nongmingong (migrant construction worker) with a hidden talent for weiqi (Go), a xiao chi (street food vendor) who knows the village’s every shortcut, and a zhiqing (former sent-down youth) elder who has seen multiple economic cycles of boom and bust. Their bonds would reflect the real-world tongxiang hui (hometown associations) that offer mutual aid in alien cities—making their betrayals all the more tragic.
The appeal of "Xia Qing Zi" can be attributed to the psychological concept of the "underdog effect." This phenomenon occurs when audiences root for the underdog, often due to a sense of empathy and relatability. In the case of Squid Game, viewers see themselves in the characters who are underestimated and overlooked, cheering them on as they defy expectations and emerge victorious.
While Squid Game featured a masked Front Man, the antagonist here would be diffuse: the chengzhongcun (urban village) demolition order that looms over the games, the algorithm that sets predatory interest rates, the local government official who looks away. In the climax, the protagonist might win not by killing the last opponent but by uncovering a hard drive of incriminating documents—only to realize that the real game was never about money, but about keeping the precarious silent. The final shot would not be a reunion with family, but the protagonist boarding a high-speed train back to their rural village, the winnings barely covering the cost of a new hukou stamp.