Two years on, this is what the original Squid Game cast are all up to now

It’s now been over two years since the original first season of Squid Game hit Netflix, and with The Challenge reality version taking over all of our lives, you might be wondering what the drama’s cast are all up to.

From winning awards to starring in loads of other Netflix shows, the stars have been keeping busy. Some are now global brand ambassadors and have truly catapulted into fame since the drama series.

So, here’s a catch up with the original cast of Squid Game, to see what they’re all up to now.

Lee Jung-jae

Squid Game saw the actor Lee Jung-jae get a Primetime Emmy and a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of main character, Seong Gi-hun.

Straight after the show, Jung-jae was selected as a global ambassador for luxury brand Gucci. In 2022, he made his debut as a director, for spy film Hunt. He has also been cast as the male lead in the Star Wars series The Acolyte, which is set to be released on Disney+.

Jung Ho-yeon

Jung Ho-yeon is 29, and a Korean model. She played player 067 in the original Squid Game. Since the show, her career has been absolutely thriving. She’s walked runways for brands such as Burberry, Miu Miu, Chanel and Acne Studios.

In October 2021, she was named global house ambassador for fashion, watches, and jewellery at Louis Vuitton, and that same month, she partnered with Adidas Originals for its Adicolor campaign. She was featured on the cover of the February 2022 issue of Vogue, making her the magazine’s first solo Korean cover star.

In 2022, Ho-yeon became one of the faces of N°1 de Chanel, and in 2022, Models.com listed Jung on the “New Supers” list, calling her a “supermodel for the modern era.” In 2023, she became a global brand ambassador for French luxury beauty brand, Lancôme. 

In 2022 she was also in The Weeknd’s music video, Out of Time. She now has over 20million Instagram followers.

Anupam Tripathi

Anupam Tripathi is an Indian actor and is now 35. He played Ali Abdul in Squid Game, which has been his most notable role to date.

Since the show, Anupam has been completing a Master’s degree in acting at Korea National University of Arts. Whilst doing this he’s had a couple of film appearances, and some small show roles. He’s also had some involvement in Squid Game: The Challenge, visiting the set with the writer of the original show.

Wi Ha-joon

Wi Ha-joon is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his role in Squid Game, where he played one of the guards. Remember the big twist at the end with him? No spoilers if you don’t – just go back and watch it again. Since then, he’s had a number of further roles. He was in Bad and Crazy, Little Women and TV show, The Worst Evil.

He now has over 10million Instagram followers, where it’s almost exclusively all selfies of him living his best life. I’m here for it, I really am.

Park Hae-soo

Park Hae-soo played Cho Sang-woo in Squid Game, who made it right to the end of the games. After then, he’s been in a couple of movies and is also in the cast of the Korean Money Heist.

In 2022, Park appeared in three Netflix productions – Yaksha: Ruthless Operations, Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area, and Narco-Saints. He also hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live Korea. 

In his personal life, in September 2021, Hae-soo and his wife welcomed a son. They’ve been married since 2019.

Gong Yoo

Gong Yoo played the ungodly good looking guy who teased players to take part in Squid Game with that mysterious card game. He’s 44 now, and since the show has been in more Netflix series. He played the central character in drama The Silent Sea, and is set to play a part in TV series, Trunk.

On his Instagram his life since Squid Game looks very chill, and it looks as though he spends most of his time hanging out with his cats or at the gym. Fair enough.

O Yeong-su

O Yeong-su, who is now 79, was the old man in the original cast of Squid Game on Netflix. After the show, he was accused of a previous sexual misconduct, and was set to go on trial. As his trial began in February 2023, and the actor admitted: “I am sorry. I think I behaved badly.”

He was on trial for allegedly inappropriately touching a young actress while the two were on tour for a play in 2017. The police report said that he had attempted to hug the woman by force, and kissed her on the cheek while they went out for a stroll together. He admitted he held the victim’s hand but denied there was any indecent assault.

In March 2024, it has been confirmed O Yeong-Su has been found guilty, and has been given an eight-month suspended prison sentence. He has said he will appeal against the verdict.

Squid Game: The Challenge is available on Netflix now. For all the latest Netflix news, drops, quizzes and memes like The Holy Church of Netflix on Facebook. 

Related stories recommended by this writer:

• 13 behind the secrets of how Squid Game: The Challenge creators made it so dramatic

• Squats for 45minutes and awful food: What filming Squid Game The Challenge was really like

• Right, when is the final episode of Squid Game: The Challenge out on Netflix?