Meet the Key Players of Squid Game Season 2: A Character Guide
The Korean-language Netflix series is set mostly in a killing game, in which the economically underprivileged play children's games for money. They are willing to risk their lives to participate.
Lee Jung-jae in 'Squid Game' season two.
Seong Gi-hun 'Player 456.'
In-ho 'The Front Man.'
'The Recruiter.'
'No-eul.'
Jung-bae 'Player 390.'
'Mr. Kim Dae-pyo.'
'Woo-seok.'
Dae-ho 'Player 388.'
Myung-gi 'Player 333.'
Jun-hee 'Player 222.'
Thanos 'Player 230.'
Nam-gyu 'Player 124.'
Min-su 'Player 125.'
Se-mi 'Player 380.'
Yong-sik 'Player 007.'
Geum-ja 'Player 149.'
Hyun-ju 'Player 120.'
Young-mi 'Player 095.'
Seon-nyeo 'Player 044.'
Gyeong-seok 'Player 256.'
The program is one of Netflix's most popular, prompting the streaming service to invest not just in a second and third season from creator Hwang Dong-hyuk, but also in live events, a reality series, and a video game.
No Ju-han/Netflix
Lee Jung-jae starred in season two of "Squid Game" as Seong Gi-hun, the first season's game champion. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the program, most of the characters from season one, including Sae-byeok (Jung Ho-yeon) and Sang-woo (Park Hae-soo), do not return in season two. While there are some recognized faces, the vast bulk of the cast is new.
Here's a look at the major characters in season two of "Squid Game" and who plays them.
Warning: This post includes minor spoilers for "Squid Game" season two.
Netflix
Gi-hun, a veteran of the games, returns as Player 456. In the three years since he emerged as the only survivor of his cycle, he's used his money to track down the guy who recruited him and find a means to shut down the games. Lee Jung-jae plays the character Seong Gi-hun.
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Toward the end of Season One, police officer Jun-ho realized that his older brother, In-ho, was the Front Man in command of the games. Jun-ho first assumed that In-ho was a player. Lee Byung-hun plays In-ho.
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The recruiter is a tall, handsome man who invites people to join the games by challenging them to a game of ddakji. Gong Yoo plays the recruiter.
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No-eul is a young woman who works in a theme park. Originally from North Korea, she aspires to find her kid and bring her to South Korea. Later, she is recruited into the games, not as a participant, but as a soldier. No-eul is played by Park Gyu-young.
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Jung-bae (Player 390) is Gi-hun's outside-the-game acquaintance, with whom he gambled on horse races in the first season premiere. Unfortunately, this time they are meeting within the game. Park Jung-bae is played by Lee Seo-hwan.
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Mr. Kim, known as Kim Dae-pyo in the credits, is Gi-hun's previous creditor. After winning the game, Gi-hun paid him back and hired him to assist him discover the recruiter. Mr. Kim is played by Kim Pub-Lae.
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Woo-seok is close to Mr. Kim. Mr. Kim and Woo-seok are now working for Gi-hun as part of his quest for a recruiter. Woo-seok is played by Jeon Seok-ho.
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Dae-ho (Player 388) is a young man that Gi-hun and Jung-bae befriend during the game. He, like Jung-bae, is a former Marine. Dae-ho is played by Kang Ha-neul.
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Myung-gi (Player 333) has past experience as a bitcoin influencer. However, a faulty advice caused him and other participants to lose a substantial sum of money. Yim Si-wan plays the character Myung-gi.
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Jun-hee (Player 222) is a young woman who entered the games to pay off her debt after losing money on Myung-gi's advise. He is also her ex-boyfriend. Jun-hee is played by Jo Yu-ri, a vocalist and former member of the Korean pop group IZ*ONE.
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Thanos (Player 230) is a rapper who lost money after purchasing cryptocurrencies based on Myung-gi's advise. In the game, some people recognise him as a celebrity. Thanos is played by Choi Seung-hyun, a musician better known by his stage as T.O.P.
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Nam-gyu (Player 124) is one of Thanos' followers in the games. Previously, he worked at a nightclub, where he met Thanos. He is played by Roh Jae-won.
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Min-su (Player 125) is one of the game's youngest players and supports Thanos. He also befriends Se-mi, a sophisticated young lady. Lee David plays Min-su, and in a cast featurette, he describes the role as a "ordinary guy" who is "super timid."
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Se-mi (Player 380) is a young woman who befriends Min-su during the games. Won Ji-an, who plays Se-mi, describes the character as "bold and determined."
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Yong-sik (Player 007) is a young man who entered the game to repay his debt. Unfortunately, he also sees his mother there. Yang Dong-geun plays the character Yong-sik.
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Geum-ja (Player 149) is Yong-sik's mother. She entered the game to assist her son pay off his debt. Kang Ae-sim plays the character Geum-ja.
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Hyun-ju (Player 120) endures harassment in the games because she is transgender. She is a former special forces soldier. Hyun-ju is played by Park Sung-hoon.
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Young-mi (Player 095) befriends Hyun-ju in the games and refers to her as unnie, a term used by younger women to refer to elder ladies with whom they are friendly. Young-mi is played by Kim Si-eun.
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Seon-nyeo (Player 044) is a shaman who frequently acts melodramatically and unpredictable in the games. Chae Kook-hee plays the character Seon-neyo.
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Gyeong-seok's (Player 256) daughter Na-yeon has cancer, and he enters the games to help pay her costly treatment. Gyeong-seok is played by Lee Jin-uk.
