Netflix’s Squid Game is returning for its final season, and the stakes are higher than ever. After redefining survival dramas with its brutal mix of psychology, class struggle, and human desperation, Squid Game Season 3 brings back familiar faces and introduces new ones, all caught in the same deadly competition where every move could mean life or death.
The upcoming season is set to serve as the conclusion of the global phenomenon, answering long-awaited questions about the Front Man’s motives, the fate of Gi-hun, and whether the cycle of violence can ever end. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of every major character in Season 3, both returning players and new challengers, and what to expect from each as the final game begins.
Seong Gi-hun (Player 456)
Seong Gi-hun, played by Lee Jung-jae, returns as the central character in Squid Game Season 3, carrying forward the emotional weight of his journey from the original hit series. Gi-hun won the first Hunger Game and then tried to end the deadly competition in Season 2, only to have his rebellion crushed, deepening his trauma and sense of purpose in the final chapter. His arc in Season 3 pushes him to grapple with loss, moral conflict, and what it means to survive in a world built on cruelty.
Hwang In-ho / The Front Man (Player 001)
Lee Byung-hun portrays the Front Man, also known as Hwang In-ho, the mysterious antagonist who both orchestrates the games and operates within them, making him one of Gi-hun’s most personal enemies. Season 3 focuses heavily on the final clash between Gi-hun and the Front Man, with their opposing visions of humanity driving much of the conflict and raising the stakes of the competition.
Lee Myung-gi (Player 333)
Played by Yim Si-wan, Myung-gi returns as a key competitor in the games. His motivations and actions add complexity to the Season 3 competition, especially as survival instincts and personal desperation come into sharper focus under the pressure of life or death.
Kang Dae-ho (Player 388)
Kang Ha-neul plays Dae-ho, a formidable presence among the Season 3 contestants. Dae-ho’s role in the deadly games tests alliances and strategic thinking as each player is pushed to the brink physically and emotionally in the final rounds.
Hwang Jun-ho
Wi Ha-joon returns as Hwang Jun-ho, the detective whose dogged pursuit of the truth about the games has driven him to desperate measures across the series. In Season 3, his journey continues as he searches for the elusive island where the games take place — and seeks closure with his brother, the Front Man.
Kang No-eul
Park Gyu-young plays No-eul, a strong and determined survivor who brings both grit and heart to the competition. Her presence highlights how teamwork, empathy, and moral choices matter even when players are thrust into brutal circumstances.
Cho Hyun-ju (Player 120)
Portrayed by Park Sung-hoon, Hyun-ju enters the games with his own emotional and psychological battles, adding depth to the cast’s dynamic as alliances and combat strategies constantly shift.
Park Gyeong-seok (Player 246)
Lee Jin-wook plays Gyeong-seok, another competitor whose journey tests both his physical prowess and his moral compass as the stakes grow ever higher.
Park Yong-sik (Player 007)
Yang Dong-geun is Yong-sik, a player whose experience returning to the games exposes both the camaraderie and the brutality that define the world of Squid Game.
Jang Geum-ja (Player 149)
Kang Ae-sim brings strength and emotional complexity to Squid Game Season 3 as Geum-ja, whose personal story and maternal instincts shape key moments in the deadly competition.
Kim Jun-hee (Player 222)
Played by Jo Yuri, Jun-hee emerges as one of the most controversial and talked-about figures in the final chapter — her involvement in the games, and the fate of her newborn child, become central to major emotional beats and the defining outcome of the finale.
Recurring and Guest Cast
Season 3 also features several recurring faces and special appearances that enrich the world of Squid Game. Veteran actors like Park Hee-soon appear as masked officers and guards, while characters from earlier seasons — such as Kang Sae-byeok, played by Jung Ho-yeon — return in flashbacks or guest spots. The season also includes VIPs — elite figures watching and manipulating the games — played by a mix of international and Korean actors.
