Squid Game season 3 cast: Full list of actors and characters

Season 2 came to a close with a revolt against those conducting the games but unfortunately for the players, they were overpowered, and in the final six episodes Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) and the remaining players will be put through more gruelling trials designed to pick them off with lethal force, until just a final few remain in contention for the enormous prize money.

The players in this latest tournament have ranged from sympathetic figures, like Gi-hun's old friend Jung-bae (Lee Seo-hwan), to agents of chaos and destruction, like the eccentric-yet-dangerous rapper Thanos (Choi Seung-hyun).

Both met their end in the previous chapter, however, meaning we'll be returning to a new status quo, with Gi-hun's spirit crushed and hell-bent on revenge more than ever.

If you'd like to get better acquainted with the remaining characters as the series nears its conclusion, read on for everything you need to know about the Squid Game season 3 cast.

Squid Game season 3 cast: Full list of actors and characters

The full cast list for Squid Game season 3 is below. Scroll down for more information about the actors and who they play.

• Lee Jung-jae as Seong Gi-hun (Player 456)
• Wi Ha-joon as Hwang Jun-ho
• Lee Byung-hun as Hwang In-ho (The Front Man/Player 001)
• Gong Yoo as The Salesman
• Im Si-wan as Lee Myung-gi (Player 333)
• Kang Ha-neul as Dae-ho (Player 388)
• Park Sung-hoon as Hyun-ju (Player 120)
• Lee Jin-wook as Gyeong-seok (Player 246)
• Yang Dong-geun as Park Yong-sik (Player 007)
• Jo Yu-ri as Kim Jun-hee (Player 222)
• Kang Ae-shim as Jang Geum-ja (Player 149)
• Park Gyu-young as No-eul
• Chae Kook-hee as Seon-nyeo (Player 044)
• Lee David as Min-su (Player 125)
• Roh Jae-won as Nam-gyu (Player 124)
• Cate Blanchett

Lee Jung-jae as Seong Gi-hun

Who is Seong Gi-hun? Gi-hun is the winner of the previous Squid Game, who is now intent on avenging those he lost in the deadly tournament and shutting it down for good. He has spared no expense attempting to track down the sinister Salesman, who recruits potential players, believing this to be his ticket back to the untraceable compound where the game takes place.

Gi-hun gets his wish, but things don't go exactly as planned. His attempts at uniting the 456 players against the Squid Game regime are a failure as he doesn't anticipate quite how many aggressive and opportunistic people would be in the cohort. Later, he leads a revolt with his key allies, but it ends in disaster – including the death of a good friend.

What else has Lee Jung-jae been in? Jung-jae became an international star following the surprise success of Squid Game, leading to a role in Star Wars prequel series The Acolyte.

Lee Byung-hun as Hwang In-ho (The Front Man)

Who is Hwang In-ho/The Front Man? The Front Man is the top boss of the Squid Game, who oversees its smooth running to please its audience of super-rich investors. He is also Jun-ho's older brother, but has firmly turned his back on his family – at the end of season 1, he near-fatally shot Jun-ho in a tense clifftop confrontation.

In-ho shocked everyone in season 2 when he entered the game as Player 001, following in the footsteps of one of the Squid Game's founding members Oh Il-nam. While competing, he purposefully got close to Gi-hun in an attempt to understand him as a rival, before ultimately betraying him to return to his position behind the scenes.

What else has Lee Byung-hun been in? In addition to numerous South Korean credits, Byung-hun has also appeared in several Hollywood projects including the GI Joe films, Red 2, Terminator Genisys and 2016's The Magnificent Seven remake.

Park Gyu-young as No-eul

Who is No-eul? No-eul is a North Korean defector, who had to leave her infant child behind in order to escape across the border – a decision that haunts her terribly. She is desperate to be reunited with her baby and will go to great lengths to make that happen, including acting as a guard in the Squid Game tournament.

Although she does not hesitate to execute people who are eliminated from the game, No-eul actively attempts to put a stop to the secondary organ harvesting business that has been established in the lower levels of the Squid Game facility.

Speaking to RadioTimes.com, Gyu-young explained: "For No-eul, when she is taking out those who are eliminated from the game... it's not really murder in her eyes.

"As she explains herself in the show, it is allowing these people who have absolutely no hope left in life – just like herself – it is letting them rest in peace.

She added: "While no act of killing another human being can be justified, No-eul is someone who thinks about what it means to protect at least a minimum amount of human dignity.

"From that perspective, she will not allow these other people to pursue financial gain by damaging the bodies of the people who have passed – and that’s something that she will never accept."

What else has Park Gyu-young been in? Gyu-young has also appeared in Netflix's Sweet Home as well as The Devil Judge, which also aired on the streaming platform.

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

Who is Cho Hyun-ju? Hyun-ju is a transgender woman who joins the Squid Game in the hopes of securing money for her gender-affirming surgery. The casting of Park Sung-hoon, a cisgender man, in this role was greeted with some controversy, although the actor promised a character that "shows incredible strength" and "breaks down stereotypes".

Hyun-ju is one of the more compassionate players in this latest Squid Game, allying with Gi-hun, Jung-bae and Jun-hee among others in the second season. That said, she does vote to continue the game at one stage as the money would transform her life.

What else has Park Sung-hoon? Fans of Netflix K-drama may recognise Sung-hoon from The Glory.

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

Who is Lee Myung-gi? Myung-gi was formerly a rich and successful YouTube star, but lost his fortune in a cryptocurrency scam, which also affected many members of his fanbase. As a result, he suffered a catastrophic fall from grace and is now scrambling to regain control over his life. He is shocked to discover that his ex-girlfriend, Jun-hee, is also competing in the games.

On their relationship, actor Yim Si-wan told RadioTimes.com: "Rather than focusing too much on Myung-gi’s bad side, I think we need to think about how those two came to become a couple in the first place. The fact that they’ve dated means that they share some similarities, right? So I think, if they can make it out of the game safely, I think they could live happily ever after."

What else has Yim Si-wan been in? In addition to acting in various Korean films and TV shows such as Unlocked, Si-wan is also a member of K-pop band ZE:A.

Jo Yu-ri as Kim Jun-hee (Player 222)

Who is Kim Jun-hee? Jun-hee is a woman looking to rebuild her finances after losing everything in a crypto scam pushed on her by her (now ex) boyfriend Myung-gi. She is pregnant and initially attempts to keep that secret from the other players, but it soon becomes impossible to hide among a select group of those closest to her.

What else has Jo Yu-ri been in? Yu-ri is best known for her music career, rising to fame in K-pop group Iz*One before striking out with a solo career.

Yang Dong-geun as Park Yong-sik (Player 007)

Who is Park Yong-sik? Yong-sik is a gambling addict, who enters the game in a desperate bid to clear his debts. Little does he know that his mother, Jang Geum-ja, also enters in the hope of helping him. Despite his flaws, Yong-sik genuinely loves his mother and is comforted by her presence, leading them to work as a team through the deadly trials.

What else has Yang Dong-geun been in? Dong-geun appeared in Korean Disney Plus series Moving, which has been renewed for a second season.

Kang Ae-shim as Jang Geum-ja (Player 149)

Who is Jang Geum-ja? Geum-ja is the mother of Yong-sik, who enters the Squid Game to try to help her son clear his substantial gambling debts. Neither of them knows that the other has signed up until they see each other in the terrifying Squid Game compound. She is fiercely protective of Yong-sik and seemingly wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice herself for him.

What else has Kang Ae-sim been in? Ae-sim has numerous South Korean credits including, most recently, A Virtuous Business, Frankly Speaking and Queen of Divorce.

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

Who is Dae-ho? Dae-ho is a player who bonds with Jung-bae as he claims to have also served in the marines. His tough persona crumbled, however, in the midst of Gi-hun's revolution, when a panic attack caused him to desert his fellow rebels – with disastrous consequences. The surprising development has caused fans to question whether he truly is the hardened soldier he claims to be.

What else has Kang Ha-neul been in? Ha-neulm is known for South Korean drama Insider and romcom Love Reset.

Wi Ha-joon as Hwang Jun-ho

Who is Hwang Jun-ho? Jun-ho is a police officer who infiltrates the Squid Game in search of his brother, In-ho, who has been missing for many years. Towards the end of season 1, he was shocked to discover that his sibling had risen to the highest rank behind the scenes of the twisted competition, taking on the role of The Front Man. After a tense clifftop confrontation with In-ho and his goons, Jun-ho was shot and fell into the sea, which very nearly cost him his life.

He was rescued by a passing fisherman and proceeded to scour the islands off the coast of South Korea in search of the clifftop he fell from. As he gets closer to exposing the location of the Squid Game, suspicions grow that the sea captain he had teamed up with may not have his best intentions at heart.

Actor Wi Ha-jun recently spoke to RadioTimes.com about his season 2 role, which left some fans disappointed as it was smaller than expected, leaving a few major plot threads unresolved.

What else has Wi Ha-jun been in? In addition to Squid Game, Ha-jun has also starred in Netflix series Gyeongseong Creature.

Chae Kook-hee as Seon-nyeo (Player 044)

Who is Seon-nyeo? She is a player in the latest Squid Game, who also considers herself to be a shaman. Korean shamanism is a controversial topic, which some within the culture have faith in, but others believe to be a scam. Practitioners will often charge expensive prices in exchange for life advice and personal guidance, claiming to be in communication with celestial powers. Seon-nyeo herself has claimed that gods will guide her safely through the deadly Squid Game – and those who agree to follow her without question.

What else has Chae Kook-hee been in? Recent projects include Lovers of the Red Sky and The World of the Married.

Lee David plays Min-su (Player 125)

Who is Min-su? Min-su is a shy young player, who finds himself easily intimidated by the likes of Thanos and Nam-gyu. Another player, Se-mi, looks out for him as she develops a platonic fondness for him. However, he does nothing to prevent her murder at Nam-gyu's hands, leaving him alone and guilt-stricken in the final stages of the contest.

What else has Lee David been in? His past credits include South Korean television shows Law School, Itaewon Class and Bad Papa.

Roh Jae-won plays Nam-gyu

Who is Nam-gyu? Nam-gyu is the most unstable and sycophantic follower that Thanos has at his disposal. He too is a bully and seems to enjoy spreading fear and dissent among the players. In season 2, they are sharing the recreational pills that cause them to act irrationally and irresponsibly, whilst also taking glee in the lethal violence that the Squid Game demands.

What else has Roh Jae-won been in? His recent South Korean credits are Yitorok Chinmilhan Baeshinja, A Killer Paradox and Daily Dose of Sunshine.

Lee Jin-wook as Gyeong-seok (Player 246)

Who is Park Gyeong-seok? Gyeong-seok is a man who enters the Squid Game to win money for his young daughter, who is suffering from blood cancer and needs vital medical care. At the end of season 2, he is held at gunpoint by the compound guards after taking part in Gi-hun's unsuccessful revolt.

What else has Lee Jin-uk been in? Another actor with more than one Netflix hit to his name, Jin-uk is also known for apocalyptic thriller Sweet Home.

Cate Blanchett as the American Recruiter

Who is the American Recruiter? A surprise cameo in the finale revealed Cate Blanchett as the recruiter for what appears to be a US version of the games. The decision for a woman recruiter was made to added a more dramatic and intriguing flare.

Director Hwang Dong-hyuk told Tudum: "And as for why Cate Blanchett, she’s just the best, with unmatched charisma. Who doesn’t love her? So we were very happy to have her appear. We needed someone who could dominate the screen with just one or two words, which is exactly what she did.

"If Gong Yoo is the Korean Recruiter, I thought she would be the perfect fit as the American Recruiter, bringing a short but gripping and impactful ending to the story."

What else as Cate Blanchett been in? Cate Blanchett is a star across stage and screen, and has starred in the likes of Carol, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Tár and more recently, Disclaimer on Apple TV+.

Squid Game season 2 eliminated players

Choi Seung-hyun plays Thanos (Player 230)

Who is Thanos? Thanos was a rapper, who found himself in financial hardship after losing money on a cryptocurrency scam peddled by fellow player Myung-gi. He was a dangerous and unpredictable personality, made even more so by his dependency on recreational drugs smuggled into the game via a cross necklace. Nevertheless, a clique formed around him, comprised of those familiar with his music and impressed by his confidence.

Alas, that didn't save him from being killed by Myung-gi in a dormitory brawl via a dinner fork to the neck. Ouch.

What else has Choi Seung-hyun been in? Choi Seung-hyun is best known for his music career in South Korea, where he performed under the stage name TOP and in the K-pop band BigBang.

"There's a lot of connection with him and parts of my past and my past mistakes," said Seung-hyun of Thanos (via NME). "I had to really sit down and think about if I was going to go through with it.

"I felt the only way to repay the trust that director Hwang [Dong-hyuk] had placed in me was for me to really do a good job in portraying Thanos."

Lee Seo-hwan as Jung-bae (Player 390)

Who is Jung-bae? Returning from a brief appearance in season 1, Jung-bae was one of Gi-hun's friends from outside of the game, who he used to go gambling with regularly. They warmly reconnected as they faced another set of challenges together, but their bond was abruptly severed when The Front Man executed Jung-bae for his part in Gi-hun's attempted coup. The loss has left Gi-hun utterly devastated.

Who is Lee Seo-hwan? Seo-hwan has previously appeared in acclaimed Apple TV+ drama Pachinko and Netflix's Extraordinary Attorney Woo.

Won Ji-an plays Se-mi

Who is Se-mi? Se-mi is a young woman who reluctantly became part of Thanos's clique. She saw the purpose of having allies in the short-term, but did not truly respect the rapper or his cronies. She did, however, take sympathy on shy player Min-su, who Thanos had been bullying since their entry into the game. Ultimately though, Min-su did nothing when Thanos's unstable friend Nam-gyu attacked and killed Se-mi.

What else has Won Ji-an been in? Ji-an has also appeared in South Korean dramas If You Wish Upon Me and Heartbeat.

Gong Yoo as The Salesman / The Recruiter

Who is The Salesman? The Salesman is a Squid Game employee, who recruits players on the Seoul subway system by playing a traditional South Korean game with them called ddakji. In the season 2 premiere, he killed himself during a tense game of Russian roulette with Gi-hun, after revealing that he had been involved in the grisly operation for many years.

What else has Gong Yoo been in? Gong Yoo is probably best known to western viewers for the zombie film Train to Busan, which became a global hit upon release in 2016.

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