▲ This photos, provided by Netflix, show Netflix original series "Squid Game." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

 

SEOUL, Oct. 25 (Yonhap) -- While Netflix's smash-hit Korean series "Squid Game" is creating a global sensation, schools in the U.S. and Europe have continued to "ban" students from dressing up as the characters who appear in the popular survival drama ahead of Halloween.

 

As green tracksuits worn in "Squid Game" sold out soon after the drama aired, it quickly became a popular choice as Halloween costumes. However, schools in different countries started preventing students from wearing such clothing in order to regulate any "inappropriate behavior" that may arise from imitating the characters.

According to British daily newspaper, The Times, on Monday, Castle Park School in south Dublin, banned children from dressing up as characters in "Squid Game" for Halloween on Oct. 31.

The school received concerns over violence scenes on "Squid Game" during recent parent-teacher conferences after it was reported that students were re-enacting games from the survival drama in the schoolyard.

"People who have watched the squid game will know that this content is never suitable for young students," a school official said. "I'm worried that students will watch this drama."

Schools in Spain have also started creating regulations on dress codes for Halloween.

An elementary school in Madrid, sent a notice asking for parental guidance as students were confirmed to have been copying actions and games in "Squid Game."

The notice asked parents to ban students under the age of 16 from watching the violent Netflix series and to guide their children.

In addition, in order to prevent any effect from students, costumes inspired by "Squid Game" will not be allowed to be worn for the upcoming Halloween day.

In New York, similar bans have been issued at three different schools.

For Fayetteville-Manlius School, a letter from the principal to parents explained that the "Squid Game" costumes do "not meet our school costume guidelines due to the potential violent message aligned with the costume."

"Costumes must follow school guidelines in that no items that can be interpreted as a weapon should be brought to school: including toy swords, guns, light sabers and more,” the school's letter said. "In addition, costumes that can't be too gory or scary so they don't scare younger students."

In response to this regulation, parents generally seem to support the school's position.

CNN also recently warned that "the show has found its way to those far younger, drawing concerns from doctors."

"Squid Game," a nine-part thriller, revolves around a group of people participating in life-and-death games to win 45.6 billion won (around 38.5 million dollars) in prize money, and is gaining huge popularity as the world's most popular Netflix TV show.

The age restriction for viewing violent and sensational scenes in Korea are those 18 or older.

However, due to the nature of video streaming viewed on TV, computer, and smartphone, younger viewers are easily able to access it if parents do not set viewing restrictions.

For this reason, dramas are gaining popularity worldwide.

Previously, schools in major countries warned that children may be exposed to violence while imitating games such as "Red Light, Green Light" in the drama.

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