Squid Game Season 1 Recap: Must-Know Facts For Season 2

Okay, let me just scream for a sec because Squid Game Season 2 just bagged a Golden Globe nom and we're literally weeks away from the new season dropping on December 26, 2024! But before we dive into fresh chaos, let's rewind and spill all the tea from Season 1 that you absolutely need to know.

Whether you watched Season 1 of the Squid Games when it first dropped or need a quick refresher, we'll break down the essential plot points, character arcs, and memorable moments that will likely influence the upcoming season. Plus, we'll highlight some of the most impactful quotes and key terminology in the Korean language that defined the series.

Squid Game Season 1 Recap

The Salesman Recruits Those In Heavy Debt

Squid Game's deadly world begins with a seemingly innocent encounter: a well-dressed salesman approaches people drowning in debt, offering them a chance to play ddakji for money. This calculated recruitment strategy targets society's most vulnerable, including our protagonist Seong Gi-hun, a divorced chauffeur with gambling debts, and others like Cho Sang-woo, a disgraced banker facing fraud charges.

Each recruit receives a mysterious business card after playing, setting up the game's premise: the desperate will do anything for a chance at financial freedom. Through this initial setup, Squid Game masterfully establishes its core theme of how economic desperation drives people to extreme choices, while introducing the key players whose lives will soon be forever changed.

Players Can Kill Other Players

In one of the game's most shocking revelations, players discover they can eliminate competition outside of the official challenges. This brutal twist emerges during a nighttime riot in the dormitory wherein the guards make zero attempts to stop the violence.

The implications of this rule definitely changed the game's dynamics, forcing players to watch their backs constantly. While some form alliances for protection, like the group led by Deok-su, others like Sae-byeok choose to remain isolated.

Seong Gi-hun's Mission Continues

After winning the deadly competition and uncovering the game's dark secrets, Seong Gi-hun makes a pivotal decision that sets up Season 2's storyline. Just as he's about to board a plane to see his daughter, he receives another call from the game's organizers. In a moment that left viewers on the edge of their seats, he turns away from his flight, choosing instead to stay in Korea and confront the sinister organization behind the games.

This cliffhanger ending leaves several burning questions unanswered: What will Gi-hun do with his newfound mission? How will he take on the powerful organization that continues to prey on society's most vulnerable?

Hwang Jun-ho And His Dangerous Investigation

The story takes an intriguing turn when police detective Hwang Jun-ho infiltrates the games while searching for his missing brother. Disguising himself as a guard, Jun-ho meticulously documents the organization's operations, uncovering disturbing details about the game's history, its wealthy VIP spectators, and the complex hierarchy of masked staff members who keep the deadly competition running.

His investigation leads to the shocking revelation that his own brother, In-ho, is not just another victim – he's actually the Front Man running the games. This discovery culminates in a tense confrontation where Jun-ho is shot by In-ho and falls from a cliff into the ocean, though his body is never found. While his fate remains unclear, his character is back for season 2 based on the trailer!

Squid Games Quotes

To fully appreciate the upcoming season, let's revisit some of the most powerful lines that captured the essence of Squid Game's first season. These are worth reading again because these quotes defined pivotal moments and themes of survival, humanity, and social inequality.

좋은 비는 내릴 때를 안다

English: "Good rain knows the best time to fall"
Romanized: "Jo-eun bi-neun nae-ril ttae-reul an-da"

Spoken by a VIP, this Korean proverb reflects the game's calculated cruelty – everything happens at its predetermined moment, just as the organization plans each devastating twist.

나는 못하는 것 빼고는 다 잘해

English: "I'm good at everything, except the things I can't do"
Romanized: "Na-neun mot-ha-neun geot ppae-go-neun da jal-hae"

Mi-nyeo's seemingly nonsensical statement reveals her survival strategy – focusing on her strengths while acknowledging her limitations with surprising self-awareness.

지옥이야. 지옥에 룰이 뭐가 있냐?

English: "This is hell. What are the rules in hell?"
Romanized: "Ji-ok-i-ya. Ji-ok-e rul-i mwo-ga iss-nya?"

Deok-su's raw observation captures the game's nightmarish reality, where conventional morality has no place.

456 번 나한테 뭘 원하지?

English: “What do you want from me, Number 456?”
Romanized: “456 beon na-han-te mweol won-ha-ji?”

The Game's  owner question conveys a mix of curiosity and tension, reflecting the intense personal stakes of the moment. After all, why would number 465 go through all the hassle of the game if he already won it?

난 그 게임을 멈추려는 거야

English: “I’m going to stop the game.”
Romanized: “Nan geu ge-im-eul meom-chu-ryeo-neun geo-ya.”

The 456's determination highlights his moral stance (and insanity) and willingness to re enter the game and confront the system, despite the all risks involved.

Korean Words and Phrases from Squid Game

While Squid Game captivates viewers with its intense storyline, it also offers a unique window into the Korean language and culture. In fact, many of these expressions are used in everyday Korean conversations, making them valuable for Korean language learners.

The series also showcases the Korean language's complex honorific system, which reflects social hierarchy and relationships between characters. These honorific expressions range from the formal "-습니다/습니까" (-sumnida/sumnikka) used when addressing the game masters, to the informal "-야/아" (-ya/a) used between close peers.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Squid Game

Q: How many people died in Squid Game Season 1?

A: 455 players died in the games, with only Seong Gi-hun (456) surviving and winning the prize money. Want to spot every elimination? Follow along with Lingopie to catch all the dramatic moments.

Q: What was the total prize money in Squid Game?

A: The total prize money was 45.6 billion won (approximately 38.5 million USD), increasing with each eliminated player.

Q: What were the six games played in Season 1?

A: Red Light Green Light, Honeycomb/Dalgona, Tug of War, Marbles, Glass Bridge, and the final Squid Game. Learn the Korean names for each game through Lingopie's vocabulary-learning features.

Q: Is Hwang Jun-ho (the police officer) really dead?

A: His fate remains ambiguous as his body was never found after being shot by his brother and falling off the cliff.

Q: Why did Gi-hun dye his hair red?

A: He dyed his hair red as a symbol of his transformation and rebellion against the game organizers.

Q: Will the original cast return for Season 2?

A: Lee Jung-jae returns as Gi-hun, and the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) is confirmed, but most original characters died in Season 1. Perfect time to practice Korean with both seasons on Lingopie!

Q: When is Squid Game Season 2 releasing?

A: Season 2 is scheduled to release on December 26, 2024, on Netflix globally.

Q: What is the significance of the shapes on the guards' masks?

A: The shapes indicate rank: circles for workers, triangles for soldiers, and squares for managers.

Q: How long did the games last in Season 1?

A: The games took place over six days, with each game typically occurring on a different day.

Q: Why did Il-nam (001) create the games?

A: He created the games because he was wealthy but bored, wanting to feel the excitement of being alive while entertaining other rich VIPs. Catch all his subtle hints throughout Season 1 with Lingopie's scene-by-scene breakdown.