Where It Comes From

Ttakji Chigi's exact birthdate is fuzzy, but records of it show up in Korean newspapers as far back as the 1920s, and it's believed to date to the Joseon Dynasty in some earlier form. Back when paper was scarce, kids folded whatever they had, old book covers, hanji mulberry paper, even scraps of floor mats, into thick little squares called ttakji. Over generations it became one of the defining street games of Korean childhood, played by literally every generation before smartphones existed, which is exactly why it's endured as instantly recognizable shorthand for "old-school Korean fun" on variety TV.

How It's Officially Played

At its core, Ttakji Chigi is delightfully simple, which is why it works so well as a quick variety-show segment. Two players face off, each with their own folded paper tile (traditionally made from two sheets of paper folded into an interlocking square).

Player one sets their ttakji flat on the ground or floor. Player two takes their own ttakji and slams it down directly next to or on top of the opponent's tile, using the air pressure and force of the strike to try to flip it over. If the opponent's ttakji flips completely, player two wins that tile and keeps it as their prize. If it doesn't flip, the turn passes and player one gets a shot at flipping player two's ttakji instead.

The whole game comes down to technique, angle of the throw, how hard you fold your own tile, and where exactly you aim the strike. It's part strength, part precision, and 100% dramatic tension while the paper is mid-flip.

Fun Twists Idols Add

Because it's such a lightweight, low-equipment game, Ttakji Chigi tends to show up on Korean variety TV as an entry challenge, tie-breaker, or "prove yourself" moment rather than a full standalone segment, the game's biggest viral variety moment belongs to Running Man, where Kim Jong Kook became legendary for flipping a ttakji that other cast members had built up as basically "unflippable," a clip so iconic it's been referenced and re-created in spinoff animations of the show.

On idol-centric content, the game usually gets folded into bigger elimination formats: producers will use a Ttakji Chigi round to decide seating order, punishment order, or who gets first pick in a follow-up game, with the loser accepting a silly forfeit rather than losing the physical tile itself (since idols obviously aren't showing up with handmade paper squares). Post-Squid Game, several shows and creators have also leaned into the game's new pop-culture cachet, using the exact fold-and-flip technique from the show as a bonding or icebreaker activity before a "real" competition begins.

How to Play It at Home

This is maybe the easiest game in the entire series to recreate, because it requires nothing but paper you already own.

To fold a ttakji: take two square sheets of paper (any paper works, but slightly heavier paper like cardstock or a magazine page holds up better). Fold each sheet corner-to-corner into a triangle, then fold again into a smaller triangle to create a sturdy folded strip. Interlock the two folded strips into a square by tucking the ends of one strip through the folds of the other, then tuck in the loose ends so it lies flat. There are tons of quick visual tutorials online if the verbal version doesn't click on the first try.

Once everyone has a ttakji, pair off and take turns: one person lays their tile flat, the other strikes theirs against it trying to make it flip. Whoever flips the most tiles by the end of a set number of rounds (or first to 3 flips) wins. For stakes, keep it simple: loser does a round of dishes, has to say something nice about everyone in the room, or takes a temporary "silly nickname" for the rest of the night. If you want an extra layer of chaos, let winners "steal" the loser's ttakji as a trophy, just like the original street-game rules.

Watch It In Action

This game is most famous in the mainstream Korean variety world through Kim Jong Kook's legendary "unflippable ttakji" moment on Running Man, still widely referenced across Korean entertainment today. It remains a game idols and their PDs reach for constantly as a nostalgic icebreaker, especially since Squid Game reintroduced it to a global audience.

Grab some scrap paper, gather your friends, and see who's got the wrist technique: this one costs nothing and somehow never gets old.