Since Squid Game has hit Netflix, it’s become a firm favourite of both fans and critics alike.
The dystopian horror centres around a competition that sees desperate members of society compete in child-like games in order to win around $40 million. The losers are killed, often in brutal ways.
The first season is nine parts long, written and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk - who hasn’t ruled out a second season of the hit show.
Read more: Squid Game season 2: Netflix director is not ruling out another series
The Netflix hit currently has a current score of 8.3/10 on IMDb and an astonishing 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The show has put a renewed focus on K-drama as a genre and on Squid Game’s incredible cast.
Who is in the cast of Squid Game?
Part of the show's appeal is its amazing cast, who give some incredible performances in their various roles.
Lee Jung-jae
Lee Jung-jae plays Squid Game’s lead character, Seong Gi-hun.
A gambling addict and thief, he decides to participate in the games after learning that his daughter is set to move to the US with her mother and stepfather, planning to use the money to achieve custody of her and treat his mother’s illness.
Lee Jung-jae has previously starred in New World, Deliver Us From Evil and Assassination.
Park Hae-soo
Park Hae-soo plays Cho Sang-woo, a childhood friend of the lead character.
Cho is now a successful investment banker but was revealed to have stolen large amounts of money from his clients. He’s competing in the game to make restitution.
Park Hae-soo is also known for the k-drama Prison Playbook, as well as Time To Hunt and By Quantum Physics: A Nightlife Venture.
HoYeon Jung
HoYeon Jung plays Kang Sae-byeok.
Kang Sae-byeok is originally from North Korea and plans to use the prize money to rescue her mother, move her to the south, and help her little brother at an orphanage in Seoul.
Squid Game marks HoYeon’s first significant acting role, as she is best known for previously competing in Korea’s Next Top Model.
Anupam Tripathi
Anupam Tripathi plays Abdul Ali, an immigrant to South Korea from Pakistan. After being scammed by his employers in an industrial accident, he plans to win the prize money for his wife and child.
Squid Game also marks Anupam’s first major breakthrough role, but he is known for parts in Space Sweepers, Luck-key and The 8th Night.
Heo Sung-tae
Heo Sung-tae plays Jang Deok-su, one of the main villains of the series, who is prepared to do anything to win the prize money.
Heo Sung-tae has appeared in Beyond Evil, The Age of Evil and The Silent Sea.
Kim Joo-ryung
Kim Joo-ryung plays Han Mi-nyeo. Han is initially desperate to leave the games as she is a young mother but decides to continue when the amount of money she could win is revealed.
We have previously seen Kim Joo-ryung in Memories of Murder, SF8 and Silenced.
Lee Byung-hun
Maintaining his anonymity for much of the series, Lee Byung-hun plays The Front Man, in charge of running the game.
Actor and singer Lee Byung-hun has appeared in many big films in South Korea, including Inside Men, Master and The Good, the Bad, the Weird.
Gong Yoo
Gong Yoo makes an appearance as The Salesman, the person tasked with luring people into playing the games in the first place.
Gong Yoo has also previously appeared in Silenced, as well as Train to Busan and Finding Mr Destiny.
Other talented cast members include Oh Young-soo, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Yoo-mi.
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