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I think you have successfully illustrated the failure of "global south" as a replacement term.

I'm not against replacing "third world", but something with the word "south" is ambiguous and counterintuitive.

It isn't as much as a replacement term, but you make a fair point that is doesn't translate well. It is both jargon and a loaded concept, which can be confusing when taken literally and without understanding what it aims to represent.

Funnily enough until they said their country was such, I assumed they were American saying 'global' South to distinguish from meaning a South American country.

'Southern hemisphere' is fine though I think? And I assume that's what was meant.

If they meant it as a replacement for "third world" (in the contemporary sense, not explicitly about the cold war), then they didn't mean anything to do with south as a direction.

Your conclusion is my point.

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