Squid Game Season 2 picks up shortly after the dramatic events of Season 1. Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) emerges victorious from the games, but instead of enjoying his newfound wealth and freedom, he makes the bold decision to use his resources to dismantle the deadly games once and for all.
Gi-hun’s Quest to End the Games
Three years later, Gi-hun remains fixated on his mission, tirelessly searching for a way to infiltrate the games’ shadowy underbelly. His journey leads him to the recruiter (Gong Yoo) who initially brought him into the games, igniting a new hope to capture the elusive Front Man and put an end to the horrors. However, his plans take an unexpected turn, forcing Gi-hun to re-enter the games and attempt to dismantle them from within. Complicating matters further is the arrival of contestant 001, known to the audience as the Front Man.
The Front Man’s Role as Contestant 001
Hwang In-ho, the true identity of the Front Man, enters the games under the alias Oh Young-il, contestant 001. While the audience knows his real identity, the other contestants do not. In-ho quickly gains Gi-hun’s trust and forms an alliance with him and a few others. Young-il appears to be an ideal ally—skilled in combat and supportive of Gi-hun’s efforts to persuade the group to vote against continuing the games.
Despite Gi-hun’s passionate pleas, most contestants opt to continue, enticed by the promise of greater rewards. Throughout the season, it seems that Gi-hun’s mission might still succeed with Young-il by his side. Young-il even shares a heart-wrenching backstory, claiming he joined the games to secure funds for his dying wife’s medical treatment. Although Gi-hun grows increasingly suspicious of his new friend, he never uncovers In-ho’s true identity.
In-ho’s True Motives
In-ho’s participation in the games raises questions about his true intentions. While it appears he has joined to undermine Gi-hun’s efforts—especially evident in the season finale where his alter ego is seemingly “killed off” during a failed rebellion—one must wonder why he would go through the trouble of posing as a contestant and gaining Gi-hun’s trust if that were his only goal.
In-ho has been a mysterious figure since his introduction in Season 1, previously concealed behind a geometric mask. His character was revealed to be the missing brother of undercover detective Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon), who infiltrated the games to find him. In-ho’s commitment to the games was demonstrated when he shot his own brother, allowing him to fall into the sea.
Despite showing glimpses of conscience, In-ho seems to subscribe to a philosophy that views the games as a moral reckoning for a flawed world rather than mere entertainment for the elite.
Speculations on In-ho’s Intentions
While In-ho’s motivations remain ambiguous, it is likely that there is more to his actions than simply protecting the games. Actor Lee Byung-hun speculated that In-ho might be attempting to educate Gi-hun, challenging his belief in humanity’s inherent goodness. He may see a reflection of himself in Gi-hun and, in a twisted sense of duty, wish to guide him toward a different perspective.
In Squid Game, Gi-hun and In-ho symbolize two opposing views of humanity: Gi-hun represents the belief in human decency even under duress, while In-ho embodies the notion of inherent greed and selfishness. As Season 2 concludes on a significant cliffhanger, Season 3 is poised to delve deeper into this philosophical conflict, ultimately testing which viewpoint will prevail.