Squid Game is the popular South Korean Netflix series revolving around individuals who choose to participate in a series of deadly games for a great deal of prize money in order to pay off their debt and then some. The series was subject to universal acclaim for its criticism of class inequality and capitalism in South Korea. To date, according to Forbes, Squid Game is the most-watched series on Netflix in 94 countries. Squid Game has won a number of accolades, including a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for O Yeong-su and history-making SAG awards for Lee Jung-jae and Jung Ho-yeon.
With season two of Squid Game in the making, fans of the show are anticipating what Hwang Dong-Hyuk will bring next. Many fans have even theorized that BTS’ Kim Taehyung may make an appearance in the second season. Unfortunately, per Games Radar, the second season is not set to be completed until 2024 and with all the excitement buzzing around, it’s only fair to go back and enjoy the first season once more, taking a closer look at the story and especially the characters. These are the best characters in Squid Game, ranked by likability from worst to best.
9 Jang Deok-Su
A notorious gangster boss in South Korea, Jang Deok-su (Heo Sung-tae) chose to participate in the game to pay off debts to the mafia and to a Filipino casino. This sociopathic man murders players without a second thought to get closer to winning the prize money or simply because he wishes to act on his rage. His sadistic tendencies lead him to play mind games with Han Mi-nyeo and to constantly threaten Sae-byeok. Deok-Su has no redeemable qualities whatsoever and as tough as he makes himself out to be, he is terrified of death, and he would never sacrifice himself for anyone and would rather take everyone down with him. Deok-su is the most hated character of Squid Game and fans everywhere triumphed when Mi-nyeo took him down.
8 Oh Il-Nam
Player 001 or Oh Il-Nam (O Yeong-su) is an old man with an inoperable brain tumor. He is an endearing character and quite likable from the beginning, eventually declaring Gi-hun his “gganbu”, a Korean term for a close friend. Many fans were devastated by his death. However, when Gi-hun receives a card that says the word “gganbu” on it and provides him an address, and he arrives at the address, he discovers Oh Il-nam on his deathbed. What's more, it’s revealed that Il-nam was the one who orchestrated the Squid Game and while he told Gi-Hun his goal in holding the Squid Game, Gi-hun is still disgusted by Il-nam’s behavior. Il-nam’s charade makes him one of the most despicable characters in Squid Game.
7 Cho Sang-Woo
Gi-hun’s childhood best friend Cho Sang-woo (Park Hae-soo) makes an appearance at the Squid Game. Gi-hun sings Sang-woo’s praises until it’s revealed that Sang-woo stole billions of won and is wanted by the police for fraud. Sang-woo’s only hope to stay out of prison is to win the Squid Game. Sang-woo is a truly horrid person who manipulates his way into surviving, betraying Ali Abdul, which led to his unfortunate death. He also proceeded to murder Player 017 on the Glass Stepping Stones and then stabbed Kang Sae-byeok. Sang-woo is a selfish coward who deserved his fate after what he did.
6 Han Mi-nyeo
Han Mi-nyeo is a bit of a drifter throughout Squid Game. Initially joining the game to pay off her debts so that she may care for her unnamed child, Mi-nyeo receives sympathy from many of the players until they realize that her selfishness may mean she never wanted the child and that she was just vying for sympathy. Her loyalties drift from Deok-su to Gi-hun after she is betrayed by him. Mi-nyeo is a manipulative woman who bullies others to get what she wants and boost her own ego. More annoying than evil, Han Mi-nyeo is known for her big mouth, but fans rejoiced when she grabbed Deok-su on the glass stepping stones leading them both to drop to their deaths.
5 Ji-Yeong
While Ji-yeong’s time on Squid Game is relatively short-lived, she is a very likable character. Joining Gi-hun’s team for the tug of war, she became an ally. Ji-yeong suffered from a great deal of physical abuse before she finally killed her father after he murdered her mother, an act which she was incarcerated for. After speaking with Seo-byeok about their reasons for participating in the game, Ji-yeong admits that if she were to make it out of the Squid Game, she would not know what to do with her winnings while Kang Sae-byeok has a plan. Ji-yeong chooses to sacrifice herself so that Seo-Byeok may live and reunite her family leading to Ji-yeong’s soul-crushing death.
4 Seong Gi-Hun
The main protagonist of Squid Game is Seong Gi-hun, a divorced father and chauffeur who is a compulsive gambler. Seong Gi-hun is invited to participate in the Squid Game to pay off his debt so that he may keep his daughter in the country. While Gi-hun has a good heart, he takes advantage of his mother’s kindness, taking money from her on a regular basis while trying to be a good father to his daughter. Gi-hun is protective of his family and friends, proving loyal to his team when they are formed. Despite his faults, Gi-hun is trying to better himself. After he wins the Squid Game, he does nothing with his winning at first, choosing to go down a route of self-destruction until his encounter with Il-nam, which is when he decides to give his money away to Sang-woo’s mother and returns to the Squid Game.
3 Kang Sae-Byeok
A cold-hearted and strong woman, Kang Sae-byeok is a North Korean defector who left the country with her parents and her younger brother. Unfortunately, they were caught on their way out, which led to her father’s death and her mother getting caught and sent to China. Sae-byeok joined the games to gain enough money to reunite her family. While she barely expresses emotions, she is a determined player who stays calm in difficult situations. This, combined with her pure motives to win the game, makes her one of the most likable characters in the series. Fans were devastated when Sang-woo stabbed Sae-byeok in the neck the night before the last game and due to her previous injury, she lost too much blood and died.
2 Abdul Ali
Abdul Ali is a migrant worker from Pakistan who came to South Korea in the hopes of making a better life for his wife and child. As a migrant worker, he barely makes enough money to make ends meet, and participating in the Squid Game is his chance to provide for his family. Ali is an optimistic and trusting person who expects nothing but good things to happen, believing in the ultimate goodness of people. Ali is a very polite and friendly person who saves Gi-hun from termination during the first game, valuing other people’s lives as much as his own. His naivety is partly what leads to his death as Sang-woo convinces Ali that there is a way for them both to win at the Marbles game. When Sang-woo hands in his marbles, Ali continues to call out for Sang-woo until he is killed. Ali’s death was probably one of the most heart-breaking of any other deaths in Squid Game.
1 Hwang Jun-Ho
Hwang Jun-Ho (Wi Ha-joon) joins the series as a police officer whom Gi-Hun reports the activities of the Squid Game to. When Gi-hun leaves the card at the police station, Jun-ho discovers that his brother is also missing with the same card left in his apartment. As a result, Jun-ho sneaks his way to the compound where the games take place and infiltrates to discover what is really going on and find his brother. While Jun-ho does not participate in the games, he is an honorable character who hopes to report the goings-on to his precinct and put a stop to the horrific actions taking place. Hwang Jun-ho’s popularity has led many fans to believe that he is not in fact dead and that he somehow survived the encounter with the Front Man.