Warning: major Squid Game season one spoilers ahead!
It took 13 years before Squid Game was turned into a drama (creator Hwang Dong Hyuk once stopped writing the script because he had to sell his laptop!), but when it was released in 2021 the series quickly became the number one show on Netflix Philippines' Top 10. The psychological thriller had everyone at the edge of their seats, and two years later it's back for a second season.
ICYDK, director Dong Hyuk is also a screenwriter, and is widely recognized for his socio-critical works that depict the harsh side of reality, such as Silenced (starring Gong Yoo) and The Fortress (starring Lee Byung Hun). So it's not surprising that the two actors made a surprise cameo in season one—but fans can rejoice for they're both part of the official cast of season 2!
Here’s where else you’ve seen the cast of Squid Game season 2:
1. Lee Jung Jae as Sung Gi Hoon
The unwilling winner of the game, a now red-headed Gi Hoon and the salesman (Gong Yoo) have a confrontation on his way to the airport. Before boarding the flight to see his daughter, Gi Hoon decides to call the number and confront the game overseers. The person on the phone tells him to get on the plane "for his own good," but Gi Hoon doesn't listen and instead returns back to the terminal. It looks like the game isn't over for him.
Lee Jung Jae has starred in several highly popular works, such as An Affair, The Housemaid, The Face Reader, and Assassination. The actor made his directorial debut with Hunt, an action spy film which co-stars himself and Jung Woo Sung. The movie was screened at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, and was nominated for several categories at the 2023 Baeksang Arts Awards, including Best Actor (Jung Woo Sung) and Best Screenwriter (Lee Jung Jae, Jo Seung Hee).
2. Wi Ha Joon as Hwang Jun Ho
Wi Ha Joon played Hwang Jun Ho, a police officer that snuck onto the island to search for his missing brother, who everyone assumes had died in the game. During their face-off, The Front Man (Lee Byung Hun) reveals his true identity before shooting his brother. Jun Ho falls off a cliff — and viewers are left to wonder if he's dead or alive.
After his breakout role in Squid Game, Ha Joon co-starred alongside Lee Dong Wook in iQIYI's Bad and Crazy in 2021. In 2022, he was part of the stellar cast of Netflix's Little Women, and in 2023 we can look forward to two of his upcoming projects, Gyeongseong Creature and The Worst of Evil. The actor also recently visited the Philippines last May 2023 for his first-ever fan meet!
3. Lee Byung Hun as the Front Man/Hwang In Ho
At the end of Season 1, it was revealed that the mysterious Front Man was actually Hwang In Ho, the missing brother of Hwang Jun Ho (Wi Ha Joon). In Ho ended up becoming the 28th winner and began working for the creator of the death game.
In real life, Lee Byung Hun is an industry veteran, and has five films on the list of highest-grossing films in South Korea (including his critically acclaimed movie Inside Men). Another fan favorite is Master, a 2016 movie written and directed by Netflix's Black Knight creator Cho Ui Seok where Byung Hun co-starred alongside Gang Dong Won and Kim Woo Bin. He's also popular in the United States for his roles in the G.I. Joe and Terminator series, Red 2, and The Magnificent Seven.
4. Gong Yoo as the salesman with ddakji (folder paper tiles)
The last time we saw Gong Yoo in Squid Game, he was trying to recruit a new player. Gi Hoon (Lee Jung Jae) manages to stop him, but not before the salesman leaves on a departing train (giving everyone Train To Busan vibes!).
Best known for his characters in K-dramas Coffee Prince, Goblin, and The Silent Sea, Gong Yoo has also captured audiences' attention through films like Train To Busan and Seo Bok (where he played opposite Park Bo Gum). Did you know that his real name is Gong Ji Cheol? His stage name is a combination of his father's family name "Gong" and of his mother's family name "Yoo".
5. Im Si Wan
Debuting as a K-pop idol under the group ZE:A in 2010, Im Siwan has portrayed notable roles in Moon Embracing The Sun, Run On, and Misaeng: Incomplete Life. He took off the nice guy hat for gritty crime films One Line and The Merciless, and post-enlistment starred in K-dramas like thrillers Hell Is Other People and Tracer. Si Wan also held a fan concert called YIM Si wan 2023 WHY I AM in SEOUL in February 2023
6. Kang Ha Neul
Kang Ha Neul (whose nickname is "Sky," because "haneul" translates to "sky" in English) is best known for his roles in K-dramas The Heirs, Misaeng: Incomplete Life (with Im Siwan!), Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, When the Camellia Blooms, and Insider. His memorable films include Midnight Runners, Forgotten, and The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure. Ha Neul also made a special appearance in Park Seo Joon and IU's 2023 movie Dream.
7. Park Sung Hoon
Known to The Glory fans as Jeon Jae Joon, Park Sung Hoon played the colorblind luxury golf club owner and part of the gang that bullied Moon Dong Eun (Song Hye Kyo). His other notable projects include My Only One, Justice, Psychopath Diary, and Joseon Exorcist. His most recent K-drama is 2023's Not Others alongside Girls' Generation's Sooyoung.
8. Yang Dong Guen
Yang Dong Guen was a member of the 2016 season of The Return of Superman with his daughter Yang Joy. The actor is also a rapper and breakdancer. He has appeared in several dramas, including Days of Wrath, Ruler of Your Own World, Cheer Up, The Forbidden Marriage, and Yaksha: Ruthless Operations. He recently appeared in 2022's K-drama Connect (based on a webtoon of the same name) with Jung Hae In, Go Kyung Pyo, and Kim Hye Jun.
Also joining the cast for the much-awaited second season are:
- Park Gyu Young from Netflix’s It's Okay to Not Be Okay and Sweet Home
- Jo Yu Ri, a former member Iz*One, from the Mnet reality competition show Produce 48
- Kang Ae Shim, a veteran theater and musical actress
- Lee David, who had a supporting role in Hwang Dong Hyuk’s film The Fortress (which starred Lee Byung Hun)
- Lee Jin Uk, from Sweet Home and Miss Granny
- Choi Seung Hyun, also known as BIGBANG's T.O.P, who appeared in several TV series and films such as 71: Into the Fire, Tazza: The Hidden Card and Commitment
- Roh Jae Won, whose film credits include Once Upon a Small Town (also featuring Red Velvet's Joy), Missing Yoon and Ditto
- Won Ji An, from Netflix's D.P. season 1
Squid Game is definitely on our list of dark and disturbing K-dramas you need to watch, but what's the number one on *your* list?
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