Did player 196 die in Squid Game Season 2? Character's fate explored

Squid Game season 2 has arrived on Netflix, once again keeping the viewers on the edge of their seats. The Korean survival thriller series brings a new set of players, along with the previous edition’s winner Seong Gi-hun, who all are ready to participate in some lethal challenges to get a shot at winning 45.6 billion won.

Among the new participants, Player 196 has particularly grabbed the audience’s attention. Played by actress Song Ji-Woo, Player 196 is named Kang Mi-Na and is also known as Hye-won.

With her diva-like attitude and her sense of style, she immediately became a fan favorite. But considering the history of the games, fans must have one question: did player 196 die in Squid Game season 2? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. She became the first player to die in the games this season.

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Did Player 196 die in Squid Game season 2?

Player 196 became the first player to be eliminated from the debut challenge, Red Light, Green Light. Kang Mi-Na is introduced in the third episode of Squid Game season 2. Like most other players, she is also under a humongous debt which forces her to join the games.

She owes around 45 million won and hopes to get rid of the debt by winning the prize money at the end of the game. Player 196 gets into the spotlight with her glamorous personality as soon as she is introduced. She does not want to wear the green uniform like everyone else, as she finds it horrendous.

Instead, she asks the guards if she can get a pink uniform like them, giving comic relief in the intense episode. Meanwhile, Player 230, Choi Su-bong aka Thanos, gets attracted to her and starts flirting with her. However, she ignores his advances.

In Squid Game season 2 episode 3. the players are brought to a ground to play the first challenge, the Red Light, Green Light game, with the infamous giant doll from the first season. Gi-hun, who is aware of what is about to happen, tries to warn everyone.

He explains to his fellow players that they will be shot if they move even by an inch after the light goes red. However, the participants call him delusional and refuse to believe him. Kang Mi-Na and Thanos even make fun of him and wonder if he is intoxicated.

As soon as the game begins, Gi-hun takes the lead and starts instructing everybody to freeze when the light turns red and the doll turns around. Everything goes well for a couple of minutes as everyone follows his instructions and nobody gets eliminated.

However, things take a turn for the worse soon as a bee lands on Player 196’s neck while the light is red. With an instinct, she moves from her position and falls down while being irritated with the bee. Before she can realize what just happened, a guard shoots her in the head.

Hence. Player 196 becomes the first person to be killed and eliminated in Squid Game season 2. With her death, the other players finally realize what Gi-hun was saying was true. Scared for their lives, they start running toward the gates.

While Gi-hun shouts to stop them from moving, the players do not listen. The guards then start shooting them one by one. Player 196’s death starts a chain reaction, and by the end of the first game, 91 players are killed.

Due to the attractive personality of Player 196, some fans are disappointed to see her leave the show so soon. However, her death is a turning point in the show which makes the players aware of the actual stakes in the game.

Squid Game season 2 was released on Netflix on December 26, 2024.