The second season of Hwang Dong-hyuk’s “Squid Game,” released on December 26, became a global hit, reaching 68 million views in the first week, surpassing “Wednesday” (50 million views) and setting a new record for the first week of Netflix. spectators. Forbes predicts it will break even more records.
While the first season featured prominent male characters such as Lee Jung-jae and Park Hae-soo, female characters such as Jeong Ho-yeon (Kang Sae-byeok), Kim Joo-ryoung (Han Mi-yeo), and Lee Yoo-mi (Ji -young) had a strong impact. Season 2 introduces even more female characters, with three surviving the brutal games and returning for season 3.
Park Gyu-young: A strong candidate for a breakthrough in Season 3
Park Gyu-young, known for her roles in “Sweet Home” and “Celebrity,” plays Kang No-eul, a North Korean defector, in the second season of “Squid Game.” Initially believed to be a participant, she is later revealed as a game agent in a “pink dress”. A former North Korean soldier, No-eul successfully defected by killing a pursuing team and crossing the demilitarized zone. In the first game, he shows off his exceptional sniping skills, but loses his cool when he sees Park Kyung-seok, the father of his acquaintance Na-yeon.
In the second season, No-eul continues her role as a game agent, but a turning point is expected in the third season. Like Oh Il-nam’s inexplicable shooting in the first season, No-eul’s failure to kill Kyung-seok raises suspicions. If he were to betray the game’s agents, save Kyung-seok, and team up with Seong Gi-hun, the plot would take a compelling turn. Additionally, No-eul shares notable similarities with Kang Sae-byeok (from season 1), such as being a defector and leaving his family behind. Some viewers speculate that they may be related, as their names, Sae-byeok meaning “dawn” and No-eul meaning “sunset”, suggest a symbolic connection, which may be revealed in season three.
Kang Ae-sim: a mother with empathy and survival skills
Kang Ae-sim, a veteran theater actress with over 40 years of experience, plays Jang Geum-ja, Yong-sik’s (Yang Dong-geun) mother, in the second season of “Squid Game.” Known for her stage work and memorable roles, such as in the 2019 drama “Be Melodramatic,” Kang Ae-sim impresses as a loving and determined mother.
In “Squid Game”, Jang Geum-ja enters the game to pay off his son’s debt. A seventy-year-old with experience in the Korean War, she quickly recognizes that the player behind her, Jun-hee (Jo Yu-ri), is pregnant and offers her some fried eggs. She defends her son when others suspect he has abandoned her, and protests strongly when Gi-hun’s group recruits members to fight the gaming agents, prioritizing his safety.
However, Jang Geum-ja’s bluntness is evident, as she awkwardly asks about the transgender player Hyeon-ju (Park Seong-hoon), but later adapts and refers to Hyeon-ju as a woman.
Jo Yu-ri: A pregnant idol contestant
Jo Yu-ri, known as the lead singer of IZ*ONE, earned the role in the second season of “Squid Game” after completing four rounds of auditions. She plays Kim Jun-hee, who joins the game after falling into debt due to bad investment advice from her ex-boyfriend Myung-gi (Im Si-wan). Her first appearance reveals that she is pregnant.
Although she has not been a central character, Jun-hee survives the Ddakji game and the matching game, overcoming various obstacles. During the vote to continue the game, she, like Gi-hun, votes “X” three times, expressing disillusionment with the deadly stakes. Jun-hee also tells Myung-gi that their relationship is over and warns him not to get involved in the special game. The future of their relationship and emotions will likely be explored further in season three.
