Was Dae-ho from Squid Game Season 2 really a Marine? Controversy explored

Squid Game Season 2 hit our screens on the 26th of December, 2024, and brought us a mysterious Player 388 to obsess over! Dae-ho, played by Kim Min-seok, strutted in claiming to be an ex-Marine, flashing a tattoo that seemed to back up his story. But his antics during the show's key scenes got everyone talking.

When the pressure's on, Dae-ho acts like he's never seen combat before. Squid Game fans can't decide if he's just a wimp or if maybe he's got some serious PTSD going on. What's the real deal with Dae-ho's background? Is he the hero he says he is, or just a chicken in a fancy tattoo? Time will tell, but we're all waiting for the next piece of the puzzle.

Let's see who he is, what he does on Squid Game, and theories about his past to try and figure out the truth.

Were Dae-ho’s actions in Squid Game Season 2 heroic or deceptive?

As Squid Game Season 2 unfolds, Dae-ho starts off seeming like a reliable buddy to Gi-hun and the rest of the contestants. His Marine tattoo and self-assured vibe make his military background feel legit. But then, during the six-legged race and that huge revolt, some of his moves start to look a bit suspicious.

There's a point where Dae-ho says he'll go grab some bullets to help his team out, but instead, he bolts for the contestants' living space, leaving everyone else in the lurch. This is surprising, considering he's supposed to have military training.

Some viewers have been tossing around the idea that maybe he's dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which could explain why he acted like that.

As Reddit user rirasama noted,

“He looked super shaken up at the sound of gunshots and handling a gun.”

Another person who goes by GIFSuser talked about how common hazing and emotional pain are in South Korea's Marine Corps. If that's true, maybe Dae-ho's decision to step back wasn't about being scared, but just a normal way for someone to deal with too much pressure.

Some people, however, aren't so forgiving. A Reddit user named Global_Mortgage_5174 pointed out,

“They made it sooo obvious he was a fraud.”

The difference between Dae-ho's confidence at first and his scared moments at the end makes you think maybe it's not all true.

Could Dae-ho be lying about his Marine past on Squid Game?

One thing that's got everyone talking about Dae-ho's character is whether he was really in the Marines. His tattoo, which he says is a badge of his military past, is the poster child for this whole debate. Some fans are convinced it proves he's the real deal, while others think it might be a trick to get some street cred.

_JayGaming23 had an interesting take on this:

“He was the only one out of the players in the uprising that was clearly lacking in any kind of skill or experience.”

This fits in with the idea that Dae-ho could've made up his Marine background to gain some serious respect and believability with the other guys he's playing with.

It's quite intriguing to know that in South Korea, serving in the military doesn't necessarily mean you've seen combat.

Reddit user Inevitable-Reality71, identifying as Korean, explained,

“In Korea, even if you are assigned to public service duty instead the military service, you still undergo shooting training in training period.”

Maybe he was in a job that didn't involve fighting, or perhaps he had to leave early because of something personal or emotional. It's something to consider.

Dae-ho’s PTSD can be a possible explanation for his behavior on Squid Game

If Dae-ho actually had a stint in the Marines, it could make sense why he acted the way he did in Squid Game. Those intense moments might've gotten to him because of PTSD or something he went through in the military.

Studies have shown that guys who've been through that kind of thing can struggle when they're put back into situations that remind them of their tough times.

The fighting in the rebellion could've brought back some bad memories, which might explain why he pulled away. And there's also the part about his relationship with his dad, who might've pushed him into joining the military.

Fans noticed that Dae-ho didn't talk much about his family, only occasionally sharing sweet moments from his childhood when he played Gonggi with his sisters. This hints that there might be some deep-seated personal issues that led him to sign up for the Squid Game.