Its popularity has also confused Koreans.
Koreaboo
The highly anticipated second season of Squid game premiered on December 26 and sparked an impressive wave of online discourse. While they didn’t quite match the cultural phenomenon of the first season, the new episodes of the show still managed to create quite a buzz.
Among the topics gaining traction is the surprising popularity of this season’s antagonist, Hwang In Ho, also known as Frontman. Despite his villainous role, fans were drawn to his complex backstory, including his time spent undercover as a participant in the Deadly Games.
What really took many by surprise, however, was the emergence of a romantic “ship” between Hwang In Ho and Seong Gi Hun, the main protagonist of the series.
#SquidGame2 gihun x inho player 456 player 001 serving the old junkie yaoi edit pic.twitter.com/yLAVvuHjFl
— @1of1kibum (@zosanfilms) December 29, 2024
For those unfamiliar, “shipping” refers to fans’ desire to see two characters in a romantic relationship, regardless of whether such a connection exists in the plot. The term derives from the word “relationship”. This usually happens with fictional characters from a movie, book, or television show, but fans have also been known to “ship” celebrities to each other.
gihun and inho connected by a literal rainbow, yaoi is real pic.twitter.com/8FJihTlY6m
— rori ⋆✮★ (@s0ldiersgirl) December 28, 2024
Plot: Gihun is a stupid man.
Inho: I love stupid men. pic.twitter.com/Kytc53BMWb— Euraysia Poolverine Ebook is here!❤️💛 (@EuraysiaSama) January 3, 2025
the way Inho grabbed Gihun here… that was my weak point pic.twitter.com/aJo6dPDhEu
— dy 🪽 (@MandyurMoon) January 2, 2025
My hips hurt pic.twitter.com/r0pAY7YGbt
— Miho (@jaelleebean) January 1, 2025
International fans, in particular, have embraced this dynamic, creating video montages and sharing fan art pairing the two characters romantically. This trend has gained significant momentum on platforms like Twitter and Instagram, leaving many Korean fans surprised by its unexpected popularity.
What squid games did you watch 💀🦑
456 & 001 moment that totally happened guys, trust me ☝️#SquidGame2 pic.twitter.com/nLTsYIx2dU— 🦋 Ivanna Fox 🦋 (@Ivanna_Fox) December 30, 2024
Squidgame 3 is better to open it like this!!#SquidGame2 #457 pic.twitter.com/B6hS0ex1lN
— Yuri 🎧{looking arcane} (@PT_Lynnn) January 2, 2025
My parents😍😭❤️🔪#gihun #disgust #SquidGame2📷 pic.twitter.com/UkqaARS5X8
— Alkalish ⚡(Open Commissions)⚡ (@Alkalish1) January 1, 2025
A post on the popular Korean online community Instiz expressed confusion about the growing appeal, especially among non-Korean viewers.
- “All this thanks to the official Netflix account… They posted a double shot and it already has more than 100,000 likes.”
- “The two are super popular, lol.”
- “LOL, honestly, if you take away everything else and just focus on the characters, I can see why people are obsessed.”
- “Whether it be idol ships or this…same energy.”
- “I seriously don’t understand. I feel like I’ve stared into the abyss.”
While the reception given to this ship may be mixed, it is undeniable that Squid Game 2 continues to evoke an impressive range of reactions from its global fans. Who would have thought that a romantic vessel between the hero and the villain would emerge from a deadly show?
