Squid Gameactor Yang Dong-geun, who plays Park Yong-sik (Player 007) in season 2, revealed that his character took a major turn during production. Yong-sik is a gambling addict who joins the games to clear his debts, unaware that his mother, Jang Geum-ja (played by Kang Ae-sim), has also entered to help him.The mother-son duo became a standout highlight ofSquid Gameseason 2, as Yong-sik often grapples with choosing between protecting his mother from elimination and pushing forward in the deadly games to win the prize money.
In aNetflixfeaturette, Yang and Kang discussed how Yong-sik’s character evolved during the production ofSquid Gameseason 2. Initially conceived bySquid Gamedirector and creator Hwang Dong-hyuk as a tougher, more antagonistic character, Yong-sik’s dynamic softened significantly due to his mother’s compassionate presence in the games. Here’s what they had to say:
Yang:The director initially imagined Yong-sik to be stronger, more bully-like character.
Kang:Kind of sleazy.
Yang:But just having his mom there in the game with him brings out completely different sides of him. This is actually the hairstyle the director requested. So based on the hairstyle, he doesn’t come across as the strong character the director had in mind at all. He looks rather cute, dorky, and a little goofy.
It Went From Bully To Mama’s Boy
While Yong-sik’s original portrayal as a sleazy, antagonistic player could have added a unique layer of tension to the games, that role more than found its homein Choi Seung-hyun’s Thanos. With his striking purple hair and arrogant swagger, Thanos emerges as a cocky rapper whose ecstasy-fueled bloodlust and chaos make him a truly menacing force throughout the season.This shift surely allowed for a more layered characterization of Yong-sik, who is often torn between his instinct to protect his mother and the warm glow of the ever-growing piggy bank of prize money.
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Ultimately, his choice to continue the games and join the “O” votersexposes Yong-sik’s inner conflict and foreshadows his likely downfallforSquid Gameseason 3. His hesitation and cowardliness — yet cute or dorky —appear at critical moments, like when he abandoned Geum-ja during the chaos of Mingle, where players often avoided being paired with presumably weaker competitors. Nonetheless, Yong-sik’s dilemma reveals a deeply conflicted character who is both driven by survival and paralyzed by hesitation. He’s far from a traditional hero, but his vulnerabilities make him one of the show’s most tragically human players.
He’s Dorky, Sickly Sweet, & Doomed
Yong-sik’s dorky persona and Geum-ja’s impassioned parenting often balance the brutality of the games. As Yong-sik’s character shifted to focus on his flaws and love for his mother,Squid Gameearnedanother emotionally charged arc with more beloved characters to root foras their doom appears evermore bythe end ofSquid Gameseason 2. His relationship with Geum-ja is a bittersweet anchor in a game that strips away humanity, and it’s this layered portrayal that not only tugs at heartstrings but also highlightsSquid Game’sability to make its characters—and their choices—hauntingly memorable.
Squid Game
Cast
Squid Game is a South Korean series released in 2021 that follows numerous financially struggling participants who are invited to partake in children’s games with deadly outcomes. As they compete, they vie for a substantial cash prize, all while navigating lethal challenges orchestrated by mysterious figures.
