Meet the Cast of Squid Game

Lee Jung-jae takes the lead as Seong Gi-hun, a gambler who lives with his mother. The model and actor—who has previously starred in An Affair, Housemaid, City of the Rising Sun, and the TV drama Chief of Staff—is surprised but humbled by Squid Game‘s whirlwind success. He reportedly told Star that he’s been getting a lot of phone calls, texts, and congratulatory messages since the show premiered on Netflix.

Jung is a fashion model with recent magazine appearances in Korean editions of ELLE, Harper’s BAZAAR, W, and Marie Claire. Though she was a contestant on Korea’s Next Top Model in 2013, Squid Game marks her official acting debut. In it, she plays Kang Sae-byeok, a North Korean defector hoping to use the game winnings to make a better life for her and her younger brother, who’s living in an orphanage.

Prior to Squid Game, Park starred in TV shows such as Prison Playbook and Legend of the Blue Sea. Up next, he’ll star in the Korean adaptation of Money Heist. In addition to the success of the new Netflix series, Park also celebrated a personal milestone as a new dad. He and his wife welcomed their first child together, a boy, on Sept. 29.

Wi plays Jun-ho, a police detective who sneaks into the Game to look for his missing brother. The actor was so “immersed” in the script that he “read it right away,” he recently told Men’s Health Korea. Aside from Squid Game, Wi has starred in films like Midnight and Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum, and TV shows like Romance Is a Bonus Book and 18 Again.

Tripathi was born in India and moved to Korea in 2010 to attend the Korea National University of Arts, according to India Times. He made his film debut in 2014’s Ode to My Father and landed a number of small roles thereafter. Earlier this year, he also lent his voice to Netflix’s The 8th Night. On Instagram, he thanked viewers for their support of Squid Game, writing, “No words to express my gratitude to the people all over the world, who all are loving and blessing Ali and [Squid Game].”

Often called Player 212, the mischievous Han Mi-nyeo is portrayed onscreen by Kim joo-ryoung. The actress’ film credits date back to the 2000s, including Memories of Murder (2003) and Plum Blossom (2000), and, later, dramas like Sleepless Night (2012) and Texture of Skin (2007). Like her costars, Kim has shared a handful of behind-the-scenes glimpses from the Squid Game set on Instagram, making those barracks look a lot less miserable.

As the Game progresses, this gangster with immense debts to pay soon emerges as the villain of the competition. He’s portrayed by actor Heo Sung-tae, whose credits include 2021’s Beyond Evil and 2017’s The Outlaws, starring Don Lee.

It doesn’t take long for Oh to pull at our heartstrings as Oh Il-nam, an ill, elderly player in the Game with a dark secret. Throughout his decades-long career, the actor has starred in A Little Monk and Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring.

Lee plays Ji-yeong, a player who joins the Game after being released from prison for killing her abusive father. Also known as player 240, she befriends Sae-byeok during the competition. Elsewhere onscreen, Lee stars in the 2021 teen drama Young Adult Matters, the 2018 TV show It’s Okay To Be Sensitive, the 2010 film The Yellow Sea, and more.

The Front Man, marked by his geometric black mask and hooded jacket, is one of the most mysterious characters of the series. He oversees the run of the whole operation (though he did not create it) and steps in if staff members step out of line, but he answers to someone too: the host of the Game. The man in disguise is Lee Byung-hun, a prolific actor who’s starred in Joint Security Area, A Bittersweet Life, The Good, The Bad, The Weird, and many more. He’s also appeared in Hollywood flicks like the G.I. Joe series and 2016’s The Magnificent Seven.