What is the meaning of the Young-Hee Doll in "The Squid Game"?
오징어 게임／烏賊魚게임
魷魚遊戲
英熙娃娃
Young-Hee Doll
Squid Game
Our monthly special selection of fantastic masterpieces on Numismatics, Exonumia, and Scripophily. Enjoy!
Art Connoisseur Corner
《Squid Game》(Korean: 오징어 게임／烏賊魚게임) is a South Korean dystopian survival thriller Netflix Original Series. The first season premiered on September 17, 2021, and became a huge hit and global trend, garnering 110 million views in just 17 days and making it the most popular series in Netflix history.
Season 2 launched on December 26, 2024, garnered 68 million views in 3 days, setting a new Netflix record for first-week viewership worldwide and topping the streaming charts in 163 countries.
Who is Young-Hee Doll?
Viewers likely remember the Young-Hee Doll's appearance in the "123 Freeze" game (Korean: "The Hibiscus Flower Has Bloomed") in the movie "The Squid Game."Created by South Korean artist Kim Tae-hyung, this character has distinctive Korean facial features and was widely used in elementary school textbooks, making her a familiar figure among Koreans. Her name, "Young-Hee," is also a very common name in Korea. Young-Hee actually has an older brother, Cheol-Soo, and the two often appeared together, sporting different looks depending on the social environment in Korea. However, their image was deemed too stereotypical and uniform, leading to their gradual disappearance from the public eye.
Modern Art by NYC, Hand-signed - Collection of NESM
The meaning of the Young-Hee Doll in "The Squid Game."
The Young-Hee Doll in "The Squid Game" has a childlike appearance, yet she kills with laser eyes, sending chills down your spine. In fact, the production team deliberately used the Young-Hee Doll to satirize the dark side of human nature through her innocent appearance. The contrast is even more shocking, representing the brutal process of life from childhood to adulthood and making us realize that many things are not as simple as they seem on the surface.
So, Death NYC features a modern art of the Young-Hee Doll on the 1 USD Banknote. What do you think its meaning is?
DEATH NYC
Death NYC is a mysterious Asian-Korean artist who skillfully combines works by contemporary artists and popular brands, including Banksy, Takashi Murakami, LV, Andy Warhol, Kaws, Supreme, Yayoi Kusama, Yoshitomo Nara, Chanel, Gucci, and Kate Moss, into a single harmonious, natural painting. While many initially considered her a plagiarist with no original work, she has gained wider recognition over time. Death NYC's unique and innate artistic talent allows her to transform these borrowed elements into her distinctive style, leading some to even call her Kaws' successor.
She yearns for creative freedom, so few people know much about her. Death NYC represents a group of New Yorkers who love modern graffiti and streetwear art, and the brand was created out of interest and passion for these art forms. This artist, considered to be of Korean descent, is just one example of their group.
"Death Is Free" was her motto: "Don't easily abandon hope."
Her works are luxurious, beautiful, and grand. Her works have been auctioned 2,138 times, mostly prints. The earliest recorded sale on Artprice is for《Mao Red Map》 (Painting category); this work was auctioned at LECLERE - Maison de ventes in 2012. The most recent record is for《D*Face Dollar》 (Printmaking category), which was auctioned in 2025.
Every authentic artwork has a security label on a black NYC card and the artist's signature. For the *D*Face Dollar* print, the signature is on the back of the bill, and the security label on the white NYC card is accompanied by the signature. Additionally, all prints include a gold security sticker. These details are crucial for verifying authenticity.
Art Connoisseur Corner
Young-Hee Doll on 1 USD Banknote
Death NYC is a contemporary New York City-based street artist known for colorful, humorous, and ironic Pop Art that critiques consumerism and media idolization. Her style often blends graffiti elements with iconic characters—such as Snoopy, Mickey Mouse, or Marilyn Monroe—using silk-screening and mixed-media collages to poke fun at popular culture.
Key Characteristics of Death NYC's Style:
- Pop Art and Graffiti Fusion: Combines sharp, colorful pop icons with gritty street art aesthetics.
- Satirical Collages: Frequently remixes iconic figures and luxury brand logos (e.g., Louis Vuitton, Chanel) with cartoon characters or art history references, like Andy Warhol’s soup cans.
- Signature Acronym: The name stands for "Don't Easily Abandon The Hope," creating a juxtaposition between the dark pseudonym and vibrant artwork.
- Recurring Themes: Common subjects include Snoopy, Barbie, Marilyn Monroe, anime characters, and financial imagery (money, bombs).
- Street and Studio: Began by painting on Soho/Chelsea walls/floors, transitioning to prints and mixed-media, often signed and marked with an "Oreo" spray can logo.
The anonymous artist keeps her identity hidden to maintain artistic freedom, frequently producing limited editions.
NYC Art Style