Squid Game cast: Who’s in the Netflix show?

Squid Game took Netflix by storm with its release earlier this month, and if you’ve binge-watched the first season- like us – we have no doubts that you’re hungry for more content. While waiting for any new announcements on Squid Game season 2, why don’t you get to know the Squid Game cast and key players in the Netflix smash hit a bit better?

Scroll on below to meet the Squid Game cast, but be warned, some of the content below contains some spoilers, so if you’ve not watched the show yet, it’s best if you come back to this article once you have!

Squid Game cast: Who’s in the Netflix show?

Lee Jung-jae plays Seong Gi-hun 

Born: March 15, 1973 in Seoul, South Korea, according to IMDb.

Who is Seong Gi-hun? Seong Gi-hun is the main character of the South Korean drama. He’s a divorced gambling addict whose financial situation leaves him desperate to play the mysterious game with the hope of winning the substantial cash prize in order to be debt-free, help his mom with surgery and gain custody of his daughter.

Where you might recognize him from: Lee Jung-jaehas, 48, appeared in many South Korean series and films, in fact, he has 41 acting credits to his name and we’re sure with the success of Squid Game, he’ll be an actor in demand. Some of the shows he’s been on include; The Face Reader, The Last Witness, Typhoon, and 2000’s Il Mare, which according to Radio Times was the inspiration for Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves’ The Lake House.

Park Hae-soo plays Cho Sang-woo

Born: November 21, 1981, South Korea

Who is Cho Sang-woo? Cho Sang-woo was Seong Gi-hun’s childhood friend who was a gifted student who attended and graduated from Seoul National University. However, after graduating he got in a bit of money trouble when he was caught stealing from his clients. In an attempt to right his wrongs, he joins the Squid Game and decides there and then that he will do whatever it takes to win the substantial sum of money.

Where you might recognize him from: Park Hae-soo, 39, has had several reoccurring roles on Korean television shows, he’s starred in; Six Flying Dragons, The Legend of the Blue Sea, or Prison Playbook. He is also currently in the process of filming episodes for South Korea’s version of Money Heist, according to his IMDb page.

Squid Game – Courtesy of NetflixHoYeon Jung plays Kang Sae-byeok

Born: June 23, 1994, in Seoul, South Korea, according to IMDb.

Who is Kang Sae-byeok? Kang Sae-byeok was a runaway from North Korea, who managed to escape and take her little brother with her to the South. She joined the deadly game in a bid to secure funds in order to get the rest of her family out of North Korea.

Where you might recognize her from: Many might be surprised to learn that Squid Game was one of HoYeon Jung’s first major roles in showbusiness! Her epic performance throughout will undoubtfully make her an actress in demand, so we won’t be too surprised if we end up seeing her in other things very soon.

Oh Young-soo plays Oh Il-nam

Born: October 19, 1944 in Korea

Who is Oh Il-nam? Dubbed online as “the old man”, Oh Il-nam was Squid Game’s first and oldest player. He joined the game for the thrill of it after he found out he was diagnosed with a deadly brain tumor. Throughout the games, many believed him to be the weakest link, however, appearances aren’t what they seem.

Where you might recognize him from: Despite being one of the biggest players and best actors in Squid Game, many will be surprised to learn that Oh Young-soo, 77, doesn’t have a long filmography! In fact, the actor has only 5 acting credits to his name, not that it matters, as he proved to everyone that this old guy knows how to act!

Kim Joo-ryoung plays Han Mi-nyeo

Born: September 10, 1976 in South Korea

Who is Han Mi-nyeo? Entering the game, all we know about Han Mi-nyeo was that she’s a poor single mother, who hadn’t even “named” her baby yet (however, whether that was true or not, we’re not so sure about it). She begins a romantic relationship with one of the other players in the game, but when he betrays her, she proves that a woman scorned is a dangerous woman.

Where you might recognize her from: According to Kim Joo-ryoung’s, 45, IMDb page, the actress has 13 acting credits to her name, with her career first taking off in 2003 in Memories of Murder. Some of the other projects she’s starred in include; I’m in Trouble!, Mr. Sunshine, SF8 , and Recalled. To see Kim’s full filmography – click here!

Wi Ha-joon plays Hwang Jun-ho

Born: August 5, 1991, in South Korea, according to IMDb.

Who is Hwang Jun-ho? Hwang Jun-ho is a police officer who stumbles across the deadly game of Squid Games after realizing his brother might be involved in the games in some way. Having found his way on the island Hwang Jun-ho does everything in his power to uncover “The Front Man’s” secrets.

Where you might recognize him from: Wi Ha-joon has 18 acting credits to his name, according to his IMDb profile. He is best known for starring in Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018) and Romance Is a Bonus Book (2019). To see the full list of films and shows he’s starred in, click here!

Lee Byung-hun plays The Front Man

Born: July 12, 1970 in Seoul, South Korea.

Who is The Front Man? The Front Man appears to be the one who is in charge of running the whole Squid Game operation. Throughout the season – like the majority of other workers – The Front Man wears a mask to maintain strict anonymity, with viewers only finding out who is beneath the mask in a shocking twist at the end of episode eight.

Where you might recognize him from: When Lee Byung-hun isn’t hidden beneath a mask, you might recognize him from one of the 53 projects he’s been in. He’s best known for starring in the G.I Joe films as Storm Shadow, to see his full filmography – click here!