Everything we know about ‘Squid Game’ season 2

Season one ended on a cliffhanger, leaving several questions unanswered. The most crucial question concerned the lead character, Seong Gi-hun, a kind-hearted gambler.

After he won the death competition at the cost of his friend Cho Sang-woo’s life, Gi-hun fell into a depression. He then discovered that the competition’s creator was one of the competitors he befriended, Oh Il-nam (Hideo Kimura).

At the end of the finale, Gi-hun faced a difficult decision — move on with his life and be with his daughter or stop the deadly game once and for all. He appeared to choose the latter.

Not only will Gi-hun return in season two, but his battle with the people in charge of the deadly competition will extend into season three.

“Squid Game” creator Hwang Dong-Hyuk wrote in a letter shared by Netflix on social media in July: “Seong Gi-hun, who vowed revenge at the end of season one, returns and joins the game again. Will he succeed in getting his revenge? Front Man doesn’t seem to be an easy opponent this time either. The fierce clash between their two worlds will continue into the series finale with season 3, which will be brought to you next year.”

One of the most well-known moments from season one was the “Red Light, Green Light” game, where competitors were shot dead if they were caught moving by a rotating giant robot doll. The competitors weren’t aware this was a death game at that point, causing a massacre.

The doll is called Young-hee and based on a real statue in South Korea.

In a statement in June 2022, Hwang said season two will introduce fans to “Young-hee’s boyfriend, Cheol-su.”

According to Koreaboo, Young-hee and Cheol-su were well-known characters from old South Korean textbooks, often depicted as best friends.

This could mean season two will have a new deadly game involving another giant, creepy doll.

Netflix and Hwang have confirmed that two antagonists from the first season will return: the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) and “the man in the suit with ddakji.”

“The man in the suit with ddakji” refers to actor Gong Yoo’s unnamed character who appears only in the series premiere and finale. He is the recruiter for the games and plays a Korean paper game, ddakji, with possible contenders before roping them into the competition.

Meanwhile, the Front Man is the man who ran the competition.

Much of season one follows a detective, Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon), who goes undercover in the games to find his missing brother. However, in episode eight, Jun-Ho discovers that his brother is now the Front Man. The Front Man appears to kill Jun-ho before the detective can expose the group’s operations. But we never see Jun-Ho’s body, which means the character could return to try to save his brother. 

During their TUDUM global fan event in June 2023, Netflix announced that Jun-ho would return in the second season, although the “Squid Game” creator has yet to confirm if the character is still alive.

Wi, the actor who plays Jun-Ho, told Deadline in 2021 that he also wants his character to return alive.

“I’m dying to know what happened to him,” Wi said. “I want him to return alive, find his brother and ask him tons of questions. As a brother, I would ask him sincerely. As a detective, I want to explore the overall secrets behind the game as well. I really hope to see Jun-ho come back alive and explore all these questions. I hope to see a more brotherly love side of their relationship as well.”

During their TUDUM global fan event, Netflix announced that 12 new actors will star as players in “Squid Game” season two.

The new cast members are Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young,  Park Sung-hoon, Jo Yu-ri,  Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Lee Jin-uk, Choi Seung-hyun, Roh Jae-won, and Won Ji-an.

Gyu-young, Sung-hoon, and Lee have previously starred in two other popular Netflix K-dramas, “Sweet Home” and “The Glory.”

In March 2022, Hwang teased that “Squid Game” star Jung Ho-yeon could return in season two.

Jung played Kang Sae-byeok, a North Korean defector participating in the deadly competition to get enough money to reunite her family. The character dies in episode eight after being killed by Sang-woo just before the final game in the competition.

Hwang told Deadline on the red carpet at the PGA Awards that he would attempt to bring back actors who play dead characters.

“Let’s say maybe she has a twin sister, you’ll see,” he said, gesturing to Jung.

Kang Sae-byeok was Jung’s first acting role, but she quickly became a fan favorite and even won a SAG award for her performance on the show.

Jung told The Hollywood Reporter in December 2021 that she lost six pounds the week after the show came out because she struggled to comprehend the series’ success.

However, Jung was not mentioned when Netflix announced the season two cast at its June 2023 event.

Netflix shared the first-look images for season two as part of their “Next On Netflix 2024” preview on February 1, 2024. 

Netflix also shared footage from season two. The short clip appears to follow directly after the end of season one as Gi-hun still has his bright red hair and is at the same airport as the season finale.

While he tries to leave the building, Gi-hun receives a call from an unknown person who appears to be involved in the organization running the death games. The person threatens Gi-hun, but he vows to find the caller.

During Netflix’s Geeked Week live event on September 19, Netflix shared a 45-second special preview of season two.

In the trailer, the Front Man visits Gi-hun at his apartment. There are brief shots of new death games, and it is implied that Gi-hun has agreed to take part in the competition again with a new set of contestants.