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Squid Game became a global phenomenon not only because of its exciting games and emotional turns but also because of its memorable characters. There's no denying that Gi-hun and Sae-byeok were our protagonists, but plenty of side characters also left big impressions throughout the show. While their narrative piece may have been small, they left the audience with heartwarming moments, suspense, and surprises.
From secret recruiters slapping random strangers to little boys who reminded us why we started the fight in the first place, each contributed their own unique elements to the game. They left us with laughter, tears, and sheer shock, and even after the show's completion, we're still talking about them. In this article, we are taking a look at 10 side characters from Squid Game that had a big impact with a little impact.
10 side characters from Squid Game that left a deep-rooted impression
1. Han Mi-nyeo (Player 212)
Han Mi-nyeo was boisterous, overdramatic, and so unpredictable. From the moment we laid eyes on her, she brought an ENTIRELY different energy to Squid Game. Whether she was pleading with her opponents to team up or playing up a dramatic storm with Deok-su, she made herself known. Certainly, she had a lot of pizazz, and no one will ever forget her infamous final act of revenge in the glass bridge game.
She didn't just push Deok-su off; she went with him and made an even more dramatic exit. Kim Joo-ryoung, the actress who played Mi-nyeo, has become the ultimate fan favorite online.
2. Ji-yeong (Player 240)
Ji-yeong was very quiet, but her part in the marble episode made for some heavy emotional lifting. She made a good connection with Sae-byeok, shared the painful parts of her life, and delivered points of calmness juxtaposed with forgettable chaos. Her memorable act to let Sae-byeok survive, by sacrificing potential self-survival to help Sae-byeok survive, showed moments of true kindness in a savage game.
I would even say many fans still talk about this scene being one of the saddest. Her character became a symbol of altruism, so much so that actress Lee Yoo-mi got awarded for the part, proving you don't need a lot of screen time to make a difference.
3. Hwang Jun-ho (Undercover Detective)
Hwang Jun-ho is a courageous police officer who independently enters the Squid Game in order to search for his disappeared brother. Disguised as one of the red-suit guards, he walks through the game system that is hidden behind the scenes. Jun-ho's progress gives viewers a better understanding of how the deadly system functions. The biggest twist occurs when Jun-ho realizes that the Front Man is his brother.
Jun-ho, blindsided initially, pushes to bring justice. His calm demeanor and keenness made him a character fans loved to engage with.
4. Seong Ga‑yeong (Gi‑hun’s Daughter)
Seong Ga-yeong, while not featured for long, provides emotional weight to the series. As Gi-hun's young daughter, she sums up Gi-hun's family duties and the stakes on Gi-hun, and the scenes around her birthday and the phone call, just before he enters the games again, provide guilt and hope. She provides Gi-hun's conscience with why he fights, and even when Gi-hun moves to the U.S., she appears in later scenes, suggesting where future storylines may go.
Fans are already speculating she might show up in sequels or spin-offs.
5. The Recruiter (Gong Yoo)
The recruiter, played by Gong Yoo, greeted us first in Squid Game. With a courteous smile and a game of ddakji–that involved some slapping–he offered desperate people a glimmer of hope of money and danger. While he only appeared briefly, his character had a resonance to it. He portrayed just how easily someone in desperation can be manipulated. Fans were fascinated by the ambiguity of his character, and theories suggest he may have been a player at some point.
The show's creator teased that we'll get more of his story in season 2, making him one of the most talked-about characters in the series with virtually no on-screen time.
6. Byeong-gi (The Doctor, Player 111)
Byeong-gi was a disgraced doctor who worked with guards to secretly harvest organs from dead players in exchange for game secrets. He was representative of how people can be selfish even in life-and-death situations. His medical background benefited him and provided him with an unfair advantage, but it also caused him problems.
Once the organizers found out, he was killed along with the guards he worked with. Yoo Sung-joo lent the character nervous tension that kept us uneasy during the entirety of his scenes, making Byeong-gi an unsettling and memorable character.
7. Ali’s Boss (Factory Owner)
Ali's story starts with heartbreak from a merciless factory owner. Ali's been working for free for months. Eventually, he begs for payment to help his family. Rather than assist him, the factory owner attempts to swindle him and ultimately injures him. The factory owner only existed for this one scene, but it embodied real-life problems such as worker oppression and power imbalance.
His character ignited conversation on social media about the conditions of migrant workers. In a series with an abundance of violence, this type of subtle exploitation was all too real, and people are unlikely to forget the way Ali was treated.
8. Kang Cheol (Sae-byeok’s Little Brother)
Kang Cheol may not have a lot of speaking lines in the series, but he was responsible for all of Sae-byeok's journey. She entered the death game to get money to save him from the orphanage, to unite their broken family. Whenever there was danger, she always thought of him. In the end, Gi-hun delivered on her last wishes and took Cheol for himself.
He was a small child, reminding people what the game is really about: Family, hope, and sacrifice. Although he was young and silent, Kang Cheol was the moral center of Squid Game that moved the audience. His story shows that you don't need lines to leave a mark.
9. The Masked Manager (Square Symbol Guard)
Among the red-suited guards, the one with the square symbol- the manager- was distinguished by his strict leadership. He gave orders, handled chaos, and threatened players when rules were broken. Occasionally, behind his cold mask, we would see him stumble into a moment or two of doubt. A subplot involving him and the doctor, Byeong-gi, filled in the background of his silent suffering from some inner turmoil.
Fans saw that, in a way, even he seemed trapped in the system. Though we never saw even a grain of his face, his commanding presence has etched itself in the history of the bloody world of Squid Game.
10. Do Jung-soo (Player 017)
Player 017 was tall and took the lead in the terrifying glass bridge game. He felt no fear or panic; unlike others, he was the first one to jump and was the inspiration for others to follow. He kept an air of calmness, even when life was on the line. He did not make it out alive, but he was among those whose courage hastened the progression of the game.
His awesome bravery evokes the thought that even side characters can sometimes be hero material. With no name or backstory, he gave Squid Game one of its most terrifying yet unforgettable instances of a truly lethal challenge.
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While Squid Game certainly gave us thrilling drama, shocking reveals, and stunning imagery, it was the side characters who helped round out the story and gave it greater weight. They each had their own pain, purpose, or enigma that gave us additional insights into the facets of the game and the people caught in it.
Whether it was an act of bravery, kindness, or gutting through heartbreak, these characters reminded us that, sometimes, the most important aspect of the story lies in what happens in the periphery. These characters deserve recognition.
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