Squid Game cemented its position as one of the most-watched Korean drama shows on Netflix worldwide. The thriller-suspense series not only won the hearts of millions of people but also won 6 Primetime Emmy Awards across categories from a total of 14 nominations. So, with Squid Game Season 2 lined up for this December, let’s look at the cast of the original season of Squid Game and the new characters we will see in Season 2.
1. Lee Jung-Jae as Seong Gi-hun
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://static.beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Untitled-1.jpeg?w=1024" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=” Lee Jung-Jae at the “Star Wars: The Acolyte” UK Premiere at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London, England. - 1”>
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Lee Jung-Jae appears as the protagonist of Squid Game. He takes up the role of Seong Gi-Hun, a habitual gambler who needs money to win the custody of his daughter. He is actively looking for ways to make money but has no luck. On top of all these troubles, he finds out that his mother needs surgery making him even more desperate. When The Salesman offers him an opportunity to make easy money, he takes it without much thought but it turns out to be one of the biggest mistakes of his life.
When we talk about acting talent, Lee Jung-Jae’s name cannot be left out. He has starred in multiple amazing movies such as Deliver Us From Evil (2020) along with a highly acclaimed Korean drama titled Chief of Staff . He has also played the protagonist in the latest addition to the Star Wars universe , a limited series titled The Acolyte.
2. Park Hae-Soo as Cho Sang-Woo
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Another notable character in Squid Game is Cho Sang-Woo played by Park Hae-Soo. He is the childhood friend of Seong Gi-Hun and the only success story from his neighborhood. Sang-Woo graduated from a good college and became a business investor. However, he was guilty of stealing money was in massive debt. The police were after him as well so to prevent himself from getting caught and to make enough money to pay back the debt, he joined the game.
Park Hae-Soo is mostly recognized for Prison Playbook released in 2017. He also played the role of “Berlin” in the Korean adaptation of Money Heist .
3. Tripathi Anupam as Abdul Ali
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Abdul Ali is one of the only non-Korean contestants in the game. In the series, he is a Pakistani immigrant. He used to work at a factory where he lost a couple of fingers because of an accident. Following this, his boss refused to pay compensation to him and he could not find work anywhere else because of his injury. He joined the Squid Game to get money for his family.
Tripathi Anupam is an Indian-born actor who is one of the few non-Korean actors working actively on Korean television. He has appeared on highly popular shows like Hospital Playlist and Descendents of The Sun . He appears in a minor role in Space Sweepers as well. However, Anupam’s inclusion in the cast of Squid Game is seen to be his breakthrough role.
4. Jung Ho-Yeon as Kang Sae-Byeok
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Kang Sae-Byeok is one of the minor characters in Squid Game. She joined the game to raise money to facilitate the escape of her family from North Korea and to create a better life for her brother currently living in an orphanage.
Appearing in the cast of Squid Game is the television debut of Jung Ho-Yeon. Before this, she was seen on screen as a contestant on Korea’s Next Top Model, the Korean version of America’s Top Model. However, her appearance in Squid Game got her a kickstart in the industry since she is now working on other projects as well.
5. Wi Ha-Joon as Hwang Jun-Ho
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Hwang Jun-Ho is a talented police officer who has been tracking the disappearance of his brother for years. Through his extensive investigation, he figured out that there was something like the game out there and eventually found a way into the game. We see that he takes down one of the guards and takes his place. This starts a sub-plot within the series which does not feel or look excessive at any point.
Wi Ha-Joon has had an extensive career in Korean cinema. He has appeared in successful films like Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum and his range of acting can be understood by the versatile roles he has played in his career like the romantic show Something in The Rain and Midnight where he appears as a serial killer.
6. Oh Young-Soo as Oh Il-Nam
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The oldest contestant in Squid Game was Oh Il-Nam. Even though he seems to be the most vulnerable character in the series, he is the one who will be responsible for the most shocking turn of events you will witness in Squid Game season 1. We see that Gi-Hun feels somewhat responsible for the old man and is also teamed up with him for the game’s challenges.
Oh Young-Soo is a veteran actor and is majorly known for playing the role of a monk in movies like 2003’s A Little Monk and Spring but he has also appeared in the show titled Chocolate which is considered to be one of the best K-Drama shows.
7. Kim Joo-Ryoung as Han Mi-Nyeo
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There is not much revealed regarding the backstory of Han Mi-Nyeo, however, she is displayed as a character who is willing to go to any extent for the sake of her survival. She teams up with a lot of people but at the end of the day ends up getting betrayed by all of them and eventually gets herself killed.
Kim Joo-Ryoung has appeared in shows like Sleepless Night and Mr. Sunshine . However, her career has seen a massive boost after appearing in the cast of Squid Game since she has taken up roles in multiple shows like Monstrous , Sabotage City , and Revenge of Others .
8. Heo Sung-Tae as Jang Deok-Su
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Jang Deok-Su was a gangster in Seol and was doing well in the underground. However, he got greedy and stole from his boss putting his life in danger. He was also buried in a massive gambling debt making him desperate for money and hence forcing him to join the Squid Game.
Heo Sung-Tae has some experience playing morally grey characters which is evident by his role as a ruthless and immoral businessman in 2021’s Beyond Evil . However, he is quite diverse when it comes to acting which can be seen in Netflix’s Racket Boys where he appears as the coach of a kid’s badminton team.
9. Lee Byung-Hun as In-Ho
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In-Ho appears in Squid Game as The Front Man, he is the one who controls everything that is going on in the game. This character is also at the center of Hwang Jun-Ho’s subplot resulting in a massive reveal by the end of the season. He is one of the few characters set to return in the cast of Squid Game Season 2 .
Lee Byung-Hun is a veteran actor who has appeared in some of the highest-grossing movies both in Korean cinema and in Hollywood. He can be seen in movies like “ The Good, The Bad, The Weird “, Inside Men , G.I. Joe , and The Magnificent Seven .
10.Gong Yoo as The Salesman
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Even though The Salesman is a minor character in Squid Game, he is technically one of the most important ones as well. The Salesman is the one who tracks down financially desperate people and persuades them to join the Squid Game. He is also one of the characters who will make a return in Squid Game Season 2.
Gong Yoo is an extremely talented actor and is known worldwide for the role he played in the 2016 zombie movie Train To Busan . He has also appeared in the critically acclaimed show Coffee Prince which is said to be his breakthrough appearance.
New Cast Members Joining Squid Game Season 2
Along with these returning cast members, some new faces will be joining Squid Game Season 2. However, as of now, we have no details about the characters they will be playing and the extent of their roles. But, we have the names of the actors joining the cast which was announced with a video posted on YouTube by Netflix. The Squid Game season 2 cast of new members includes the following actors-
- Yang Dong-geun
- Kang Ae-Sim
- Lee David
- Lee Jin-Uk
- Yim Si-Wan
- Kang Ha-Neul
- Park Gyu-Young
- Park Sung-Hoon
- Jo Yu-Ri
- Choi Seung-Hyun
- Roh Jae-Won
- Won Ji-An
So, with that being said, we know that our favorite characters are coming back for Squid Game Season 2, and along with them, some new actors will be joining them making this season even bigger than the first one. So, Let’s wait and see what Netflix has in store for us, and till then, stay tuned for further updates!
Shashank Shakya is an entertainment writer at Beebom. He has completed his Bachelors (Honors) in English Literature and is a published author. Shashank boasts incomparable knowledge about the Marvel and DC universe, along with other branches of entertainment with substantial experience in the field of writing.
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- Squid Game: America will begin filming on February 26, 2026.
- This update came to us via a listing made on the Film and Television Industry Alliance, where David Fincher is also listed as the director.
- As of now, we don’t have a tentative release date for Squid Game: America
Netflix has given us probably the most successful battle royale show of all time with Squid Game, and it might have been slightly disappointing for fans to watch it end with its final season. Even though the series has come to an end, the Game will live on with its spinoffs, and the first one in line is none other than the much-anticipated spinoff set in the USA, titled Squid Game: America is now confirmed to begin filming in 2026, and here is everything you need to know about this update.
Squid Game: America to Start Filming in February 2026
Image Credit: Netflix (via YouTube/Netflix, screenshot by Shashank Shakya/Beebom)
It has come to light that Squid Game: America is set to begin filming in February 2026, in Los Angeles . This reveal came to us via a listing on the Film and Television Industry Alliance website , where a filming date is mentioned to be February 26, 2026.
The listing of the TV show includes several names, including David Fincher listed as the director, original Squid Game director Hwang Dong-hyuk, and producer Kim Ji-yeon as producers, Dennis Kelly as screenwriter, and the only cast member mentioned on the webpage as of now is Cate Blanchett, whom we saw in the Squid Game finale post-credit scene . The new webpage also comes with a brief description that reads-
“A US version of the Korean hit series, the spinoff is set in the same world but we get to see how the games are handled in America.”
So, as of now, the only thing we know is that this series will pick up exactly where the final season of Squid Game ended, where we saw the recruiter, played by Cate Blanchett, playing ddakji with a man. It’s hard to say if we will see any returning characters with this one.
Shashank Shakya is an entertainment writer at Beebom. He has completed his Bachelors (Honors) in English Literature and is a published author. Shashank boasts incomparable knowledge about the Marvel and DC universe, along with other branches of entertainment with substantial experience in the field of writing.
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Squid Game was the first survival TV show to become hugely popular in 2021. It quickly surpassed even the most popular shows on Netflix and became the most-watched series on the platform. Now that the saga has ended on a tear-jerking note, I’m pretty sure there are fans who would want to know what other shows have the audacity to give the same feel. Well, here, I’ve listed five of the best TV Shows like Squid Game that can fill the void.
1. Alice in Borderland
Image Credit: Robot Communications Inc. (via YouTube/Netflix, Screenshot By Aparna Ukil/Beebom)
- Release Date: December 10, 2020
- Director: Shinsuke Sato
- Cast: Kento Yamazaki, Tao Tsuchiya, Nijirō Murakami, Ayaka Miyoshi, Aya Asahina, Dori Sakurada, Sho Aoyagi, Riisa Naka, Yuri Tsunematsu, Hayato Isomura
Alice in Borderland is one of the must-watch shows for everyone who liked Squid Game. Despite boasting a different narrative style and themes, this survival thriller drama series shares way more similarities with Squid Game than any other show in existence.
Like Squid Game, Alice in Borderland also forces its characters to participate in deadly games. However, the only difference here is that the one to survive in the Squid Game will go home with the huge cash prize that will give them financial freedom, while in Alice in Borderland, the characters get to extend their visas by winning the game. Squid Game makes players play some childhood games with deadly twists, and Alice in Borderland makes its characters go through some of the most complex games that test their intellect, physical strength, decision-making, and more.
Alice in Borderland Season 1 was released before the pilot season of Squid Game, but it didn’t receive the initial traction it deserved due to a lack of marketing. However, the success of Squid Game popularized the genre, and AIB got the attention it deserved. It has blessed us with two seasons so far, and the third season is set to be released on September 25, 2025.
2. The 8 Show
Image Courtesy: Netflix
- Release Date: May 17, 2024
- Director: Han Jae-rim
- Cast: Ryu Jun-yeol, Chun Woo-hee, Park Jeong-min, Lee Yul-eum, Park Hae-joon, Lee Joo-young, Moon Jeong-hee, Bae Seong-woo
In Squid Game, we see 456 players forced to play the life-or-death games; on the other side, The 8 Show features only eight players who must do everything to win the game of survival. With each round, they are rewarded with more time to live. Both TV shows shed light on wealth disparity and human desperation. They particularly illustrate what extreme pressure does to an ordinary person.
The thriller series was released in 2024 and mostly garnered positive reviews. It also remained on Netflix’s Top 10 chart for three consecutive weeks.
3. Death’s Game
Image Credit: Saram Entertainment (YouTube/ Prime Video Singapore, Screenshot by Aparna Ukil/Beebom)
- Release Date: December 15, 2023
- Director: Ha Byung-hoon
- Cast: Seo In-guk, Park So-dam
Death’s Game and Squid Game are polar opposites, but again, it is a television series that comes from a South Korean production, and it also explores themes of societal pressure, survival, and morality. When the main protagonist Choi Yee-jae loses all hope and tries to commit suicide, Death itself stops him.
The invisible supernatural entity then punishes him by giving him 12 chances to live his life. If he fails to survive in even one of his lives, he will be sent to hell, and if he prevents his death, even if in his one lifetime, he can continue living his ordinary life.
4. All Of Us Are Dead
Image Credit: Kim Jong-hak Production (YouTube/Netflix, Screenshot By Aparna Ukil/Beebom)
- Release Date: January 28, 2022
- Director: Lee Jae-kyoo and Kim Nam-soo
- Cast: Park Ji-hu, Yoon Chan-young, Cho Yi-hyun, Lomon
Regardless, All of Us Are Dead and Squid Game are both set in Korea, which allows international fans to become familiar with the country’s culture.
5. 3%
Image Credit: Boutique Films (YouTube/ Netflix, Screenshot by Aparna Ukil / Beebom)
- Release Date: November 25, 2016
- Director: César Charlone, Daina Giannecchini, Dani Libardi, Jotagá Crema, Philippe Barcinski
- Cast: João Miguel, Bianca Comparato, Michel Gomes, Rodolfo Valente, Cynthia Senek, Vaneza Oliveira, Rafael Lozano, Viviane Porto
The first season of 3% was released in 2016, and it was the first Portuguese-language original television series on Netflix. Like Squid Game, this series also explored the themes of classism, wealth disparity, and survival.
3% takes place in a dystopian world that is divided into two parts: ‘Inland’ and ‘Offshore’. The former side includes the poor class, while the latter consists of the elite. So, the 20-year-olds of the Inshore are pushed to go through some tests that will decide their fate. Only 3% who pass the tests get to join the rich, while the ones who fail stay behind to spend their lives in poverty and face dire situations.
Aparna is a Senior Entertainment Writer at Beebom with 4 years of experience in the industry. Specializing in Jujutsu Kaisen and everything horror, she brings in-depth insights and a passion for storytelling to her coverage. Recently, she has interviewed Abby Trott, the voice actress behind Demon Slayer’s Nezuko and Dandadan’s Momo. She has also interviewed Adam McArthur, the one to voice Yuji Itadori in JJK, delivering exclusive content for fans. Previously, she contributed her expertise to some notable publications including Sportskeeda, Dexerto, and Forever Geek, honing her craft in entertainment journalism.
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