Squid Game season two: Where you've seen the TV show's new cast before

From K-pop stars to villainous bad guys, here are some of the places where you've seen these actors and actresses before

Fans have eagerly awaited the return of Squid Game. Photo: Netflix

Squid Game has returned. When the show was first shown in 2021, it was a surprise global hit, becoming Netflix’s most-watched series and winner of several awards, including two Primetime Emmys.

Although there are a couple of familiar faces that have returned from the first season, season two presents a bunch of new characters to the game. With the immense popularity of the show, it’s not surprising some famous names have joined the cast for the second season.

Here’s a look at some of the new characters, who play them and where you might have seen them before.

Im Si-wan as Myung-gi (Player 333)

In Squid Game: Myung-gi is a former YouTuber who became famous for giving out cryptocurrency advice to his fans. However, after telling them to invest in what turns out to be a crypto scam, he shuts down his account and goes on the run as his followers lose all their money listening to him. He runs into his ex-girlfriend Junhee while in the games.

Where you’ll recognise him from: Im starred in the beloved 2014 TV series Misaeng: Incomplete Life as Jang Geu-rae, an employee who once had dreams to be a professional baduk player but after failing to achieve this goal, he gets hired as an intern at a large trading company.

Kang Ha-neul as Dae-ho (Player 388)

In Squid Game: Dae-ho is a former marine who instantly bonds with protagonist Gi-hun (Player 456) and his best friend Jung-bae (Player 390) while in the games. His reason for participating isn't disclosed.

Where you’ll recognise him from: Kang starred in 2019’s When the Camellia Blooms, the highest-rated mini-series drama in South Korean TV that year. He played Yong-sik, a police officer who moves back to his hometown and falls in love with a single mother despite his mother’s disapproval. He is also focused on catching a serial killer on the loose when his love interest becomes the next target.

Park Gyu-young as No-eul (Guard 11)

In Squid Game: No-eul is a North Korean woman who escapes to the South but leaves behind her young daughter. She works at an amusement park to earn money and lives in her car while hoping to save enough to continue the search to be reunited with her child. However, it is later revealed she takes part in the Squid Games as one of the guards.

Where you’ll recognise her: Park has appeared in several top K-dramas and films, including 2020’s popular hit It’s Okay To Not Be Okay. In it, she plays Ju-ri, a shy nurse at a psychiatric hospital who has an unrequited crush on her co-worker.

Jo Yuri as Junhee (Player 222)

In Squid Game: Junhee is Myung-gi's ex-girlfriend who is also pregnant with their child. Like some of the other players, she trusted him in investing in crypto and also lost her money. She hopes to be able to win money to provide a life for herself and their child.

Where you’ll recognise her: Although newer to acting, Jo was a member of the former girl group IZ*ONE. The group was comprises Japanese and South Korean members but was only active from 2018 to 2021. She then embarked on a solo career before making her acting debut in 2022's teen drama Mimicus.

Choi Seung-hyun aka Top as Thanos (Player 120)

In Squid Game: Thanos is an eccentric famous rapper who loses all his money thanks to listening to Myung-gi.

Where you’ll recognise him: Most K-pop fans will be able to instantly recognise Top from his time in the massively successful boy band BigBang, who were once called the “Kings of K-pop”. Although he left the group in May 2023, he continues performing successfully as a solo artist.

Lee Jin-uk as Gyung-seok (Player 246)

In Squid Game: Gyung-seok is a man who works as a caricaturist at an amusement park and enters the games to play for treatment for his young daughter's cancer.

Where you’ll recognise him from: Fans of the apocalyptic horror TV show Sweet Home will know Lee. In the series, he plays Sang-wook, a mysterious contract killer.

Park Sung-hoon as Hyun-ju (Player 120)

In Squid Game: Park plays Hyun-ju, a transgender woman who enters in hopes of earning money to complete her transition. She’s a former soldier in the South Korean military.

Where you’ll recognise him from: The actor has starred in several popular K-dramas, including 2024’s Queen of Tears and 2022’s The Glory, in which he played the villainous Jae-joon, the heir of a country club who was part of a group of teenagers that bullied the show’s protagonist.