WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Squid Game Season 2.
Several main and supporting characters who originally appeared in squid game Season 1 returns to reprise their roles in the highly anticipated Season 2. After becoming Netflix's most-watched series of all time with its debut in September 2021, squid game Season 2 premiered on the giant streaming platform on December 26, 2024. Season 1 star Lee Jung-jae returns as Squid Game winner Seong Gi-hun who is determined to make the creators of the high-stakes survival game pay. The cast of squid game Season 2 also features the return of Wi Ha-Joon as Hwang Jun-Ho and Lee Byung-hun's frontman Hwang In-ho.
Series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk returns to write and direct squid game 2nd season and has already confirmed that squid game 3rd season, which will be the final season of the famous thriller, scheduled for release in 2025. After the 9-episode stretch of season 1 squid game season 2 has a total of seven episodes. The end of squid game the first season revealed that Seong Gi-hun won the Squid Game and left the game with 45.6 billion winnings. Despite his new wealth, Gi-hun chooses to re-enter Squid's Game to take him down from within.
9
Kang Cheol
Played by Park Si-wan
Kang Cheol, Sae-byook's younger brother, makes a brief appearance in squid game season 2, episode 2. Gi-hun watches him from across the street when he arrives home, which confirms that San-woo's mother is taking care of him after the events of squid game season 1. Cheol calls San-woo's mother “grandmother” in squid game 2nd seasonwhich indicates that the two characters managed to fill a void in each other's lives.
As Gi-hun asked San-woo's mother to take care of Cheol after Sae-byook's death in the first season of Squid Game, Gi-hun fulfilled his promise to her that he would take care of him. San-woo ironically kills Sae-byook in squid game Season 1, which neither Cheol nor San-woo's mother know about. Cheol's parents remain in North Korea and had no one to care for him after Sae-byook's death. He has a much smaller role squid game season 2, but it is included to confirm that Gi-hun kept his promise to Sae-byook.
8
Sang-woo's mother
Played by Park Hye-jin
Sang-woo's mother, played by Park Hye-jin, returns briefly in squid game season 2. Gi-hun used to ask her about Song-woo's whereabouts at his fish market in the first season. After Song-woo's death, he managed to convince her to take Cheol in and be his guardian, as he would otherwise be an orphan. Although Sang-woo's mother appears in several scenes in squid game 1st season, she is only depicted in the scene that reintroduces Cheol's character in season 2, episode 2.
Because Sang-woo dies at the end of squid game In the first season, he is unable to care for his mother during her old age. This dynamic created by Gi-hun ensures that Cheol will not only be taken care of during his adolescence, but Song-woo's mother will also have someone to take care of her when she enters old age. Gi-hun watches this dynamic from afar and realizes that the two have developed a sincere love for each other, so he checks in on them but doesn't interfere. squid game 2nd season.
7
Kim Sang Hyuk
Played by Lee Dong Yong
Chief Kim, who was introduced as police chief in squid game Season 1, returns at the beginning of squid game season 2. He sees Jun-ho handing out traffic tickets and tries to convince him over lunch to return to “real” police work as a detective. Chief Kim has a minor but memorable role in both seasons of squid game but is not involved in Lula's Game, although Gi-hun unsuccessfully asks him for help in the first season.
Not much is known about Chief Kim in any given season. squid game in addition to being a serious police officer who doesn't believe in the Squid Game. He tries to help Jun-ho get reinstated as a detective early on. squid game 2nd season but this plan ends up backfiring. Overall, Chief Kim is not a very important character in the series, but he is one of the few characters who appears in seasons 1 and 2.
6
North Korean defector shelter worker
Played by Choi Jae-sup
Officially credited as “Defector Employee of the North Korean Shelter”, this character played by Choi Jae-sup also appears in both squid game season 1 and season 2. In both seasons, the character is a marriage broker who works at an agency called “Women of the North, Men of the South.” As a defector from North Korea, he aims to help female North Korean defectors find South Korean men.
The character also performs other general tasks for North Korean defectors and helps get defectors' relatives out of the country. Viewers may remember him from Season 1 when Sae-byook throws coffee in his face in Season 1 Episode 2. squid game season 2, episode 2, Gi-hun visits him to check on Sae-byook's motherwho is still in North Korea and has been diagnosed with tuberculosis. Gi-hun is determined to take Sae-byook's mother to South Korea as his promise to take care of her family.
5
Jung-bae (Player 390)
Played by Lee Seo-hwan
Although Jung-bae had no name in season 1, he was seen in the first two episodes of season 1 as Gi-hun's gaming companion and close friend. In squid game In season 2, the character gets a name and also becomes a competitor, Player 390, in the latest edition of Squid Game. By being in the game with Gi-hun, he becomes one of the biggest characters in the second season of Squid Game.
Jung-bae remains Gi-hun's most loyal friend in squid game season 2. He is also revealed to have been a former Marine and not just a degenerate gambler as the first season may have suggested. Pretty much wherever Gi-hun goes squid game In Season 2, Jung-bae is by his side, which proves that he is more loyal to him than anyone else in the game.
4
The Salesman
Played by Gong Yoo
The Salesman (played by Gong Yoo) is the gray-suited recruiter who initially invited Gi-hun and hundreds of others to the Squid Game in Season 1. He is given the same task in Season 2 and challenges random people who appear to be in financially disadvantageous situations for a game of ddakji, which involves a red and a blue envelope. The Salesman doesn't get a formal name, but it's Gi-hun's best chance to find out where the Squid Game takes place.
The Seller recruitment process receives a more in-depth look at squid game Season 2 after Woo-seok and Mr. Kim finally track him down playing ddakji in a subway station. They follow him through a park in broad daylight as he talks to dozens of people about choosing between a guarantee (food) and a dream (lottery ticket). Gi-hun finally manages to face and defeat him in a game of Russian Roulette.which opens the door to talk to the Front Man.
3
Hwang Jun-ho
Played by Wi Ha-joon
Jun-ho is one of the main characters in squid game season 1 that returns in season 2. After the literal ending of Season 1, it was uncertain whether Jun-ho was still alive after his brother, Front Man In-ho, shot him in the shoulder. Jun-ho then fell into the sea, where he was rescued by a sailor named Captain Park. Although Jun-ho has discovered the truth about his brother's disappearance and his role in the Squid Game, Jun-ho is determined to help Gi-hun take him down.
Wi Ha-joon's character begins squid game Season 2 as a traffic cop before encountering Gi-hun and eventually joining his efforts. Jin-ho managed to disguise himself as a Pink Guard in squid game season 1 but remains on the boat with Captain Park, Woo-seok, and a group of mercenaries Gi-hun hired to invade the island where the Squid Game was held. Jun-ho trusts Captain Park to help him locate the correct island and save Gi-hun, but they face complications along the way.
2
The frontman / Hwang In-ho
Played by Lee Byung-hun
Front Man returns after revealing his true identity to his younger brother, Jun-ho, in squid game end of season 1. This time, In-ho is fascinated by Gi-hun's determination to take down Squid Game and wants to meet him in person, so he disguises himself as Player 001 in Lula's Game. Unbeknownst to anyone except the audience and the Squid Game staff, Lee Byung-hun's character pretends to be one of the contestants desperate for money.
Although In-ho seems to form a real bond with Gi-hun, he still won't allow him to destroy Squid Game and takes matters into his own hands at the last second. Gi-hun has yet to become aware of Player 001's true identity and betrayal, even at the end of Season 2, which will certainly create an interesting dynamic early on. squid game season 3. It's unclear exactly what In-ho wants from Gi-hun, but there's a good chance he'll try to convince him to join the “dark side.”
1
Seong Gi-Hun
Played by Lee Jung-jae
The main character and breakout star of squid game season 1 returns for season 2. Gi-hun already escaped the Squid Game and won almost $46 billion in wonhe still chooses to go back inside in a bold attempt to overthrow Lula's Game from the inside out. Thinking he will be tracked and lead Jun-ho to the private island where the Squid Game takes place, Gi-hun takes on the role of hero in season 2, but to his surprise, not all the contestants want to follow him.
Gi-hun is driven by the moral belief that people will do the right thingwhich was the point of his hospital scene with Oh-il Nam at the end of squid game season 1. Gi-hun refuses to believe that the majority of Squid Game participants will want to continue with the game if he can warn them after Red Light Green Light and convince them to vote to end it. Gi-hun's belief has been proven wrong several times throughout squid game Season 2, as he finds himself stuck in his role as Player 456 once again.