Who Is Jung-Bae in ‘Squid Game’ Season 2? Gi-Hun’s Friend’s Death, Explained

This story contains spoilers for Squid Game season 2.

Another round of Squid Game isn’t the only surprise under the Christmas tree this year. When Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) rejoins the game in season 2, he finds that his old friend Jung-bae (Lee Seo-hwan) is dressed in a green jumpsuit as well. He’s Player 390—and in enough debt to send him into the dark world of the games.

But will fans remember Jung-bae from the first season? There’s plenty of new challenges and eccentric contestants in season 2 for fans to wrap their heads around. The Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) even joins the game himself. Plus, Gi-hun is determined to stop the bloodshed forever. Jung-bae’s return isn’t as simple, and neither is his fate in the season 2 finale.

Who Is Jung-bae?

In the very first episode of Squid Game season 1, Jung-bae is at the racetrack with Gi-hun when the loan sharks chase them down. The pair are gambling buddies, both addicted to betting and severely downtrodden. However, Jung-bae seems a bit better off than Gi-hun in episode 2. When Gi-hun visits Jung-bae at his bar and asks his friend for money, Jung-bae refuses. So, Gi-hun enters the games and disappears for three years.

What Happens to Jung-bae in the Season 2 Finale?

Jung-bae’s situation in season 2 mirrors Gi-hun’s reason to join the games from the first season. He is now divorced, and his son lives with his wife. Jung-bae is also drowning in debt. Still, he offers to help Gi-hun survive the second round of games. He even campaigns to end the games once he finds out that contestants die if they lose.

In the finale, Jung-bae joins Gi-hun in his plan to stop the games. He grabs a guard’s gun and follows Gi-hun all the way to the control room. Sadly, the Front Man betrays the group and ends Gi-hun’s insurrection. As punishment, he shoots and kills Jung-bae in front of Gi-hun.

“Audiences are definitely going to be shocked and very sad to see Jung-bae go,” creator Hwang Dong-hyuk told Netflix. “He’s also the only person within the games that Gi-hun can trust and completely rely on.” When Squid Game returns for season 3 later in 2025, Gi-hun could find himself completely alone.