Why does Gi-hun go back to the Squid Game in Season 2? Character's motivations, explored in depth 

One of the most globally acclaimed survival thrillers—Squid Game has returned for Season 2 on Netflix and so does star Lee Jung-jae as Seong Gi-hun (Player 456). The series which began in 2021 follows a group of desperate participants who join a game to escape their financial woes.

Among them is Seong Gi-hun, a struggling divorced father whose gaming addiction resulted in huge debt. To resolve his problems, Gi-hun enters a mysterious competition that offers massive prize money.

The games are based on traditional children's games but with a twist—failure means death. Interestingly, the players realize the high stakes only after they've been taken to the island where the competition is held. As seen at the end of Squid Game Season 1, Gi-hun makes it alive and wins the prize money.

However, instead of leading a peaceful life, he decides to infiltrate the Games to bring justice to those responsible. In Season 2, he plans to expose the creators of the game from outside by forming allies and using the prize money only for his mission.

Continue reading to dive deep into Gi-hun's motivations behind returning to Squid Game in Season 2.

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Reasons behind Gi-hun's return to Squid Game in Season 2

Gi-hun's decision to go back to Squid Game in Season 2 stems from a mix of revenge, justice, and unresolved trauma. In Season 1, he survived the horrors but couldn't save any of his friends and other participants.

As seen in the Season 1 finale, he was about to leave his traumatic experiences behind, but after the Front Man called, Gi-hun's decision changed. In Season 2, it's revealed that he spent almost two years searching for the Salesman (The Recruiter) to track down the island.

After an extensive search with the help of Mr. Kim and his men, Gi-hun finally confronts the Salesman, hoping he will reveal the location. However, after a deadly game, the Salesman kills himself, leaving Gi-hun in shock.

Despite that, he didn't plan to step back and continue his quest. Now, it's not just about dismantling the game, but also freeing himself from the trauma and nightmares of his friends Cho-Sang-woo and Kang Sae-byeok's death.

Also Read: Every death in Squid Game Season 2, ranked from most expected to least

Actor Lee Byung-hun (Front Man) also shed light on Gi-hun's motivations during an interview with Variety. While talking about his character, Byung-hun explained:

"When [In-ho] meets Gi-hun, who is still trying to break down the system, who returns to the games to be able to change something, because he still has hope for humanity."

He added:

"I think In-ho really wants to break Gi-hun’s spirit, and that’s why you see him observing him throughout the games and very meticulously making a plan to dismantle a lot of what he is doing."

As seen in the Squid Game Season 2 finale, Gi-hun's fate is uncertain, yet he's determined to bring justice for the lives lost in Seasons 1 and 2 and expose the competition from within. Additionally, he's not alone in this plan, as Front Man's brother—Detective Hwang Jun-ho is also trying to track down the location and stop the game.

Also Read: Squid Game Season 2 ending explained: Gi-hun's revolution, Jung-bae's fate, and how it leads to Season 3

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Gi-hun's plan in Squid Game Season 2 backfired: exploring details

Gi-hun's plan to sneak into the deadly game in Squid Game Season 2 depends on the tracker he placed in his fake tooth. He plans on using the device to help Detective Hwang Jun-ho and his ally Choi Woo-seok to track the location where the competition is held.

However, when Gi-hun is ambushed by the masked men and taken to the competition, he discovers that the tracker is missing. The series didn't reveal how the organizers learned about the device, but since Front Man is aware of his mission, they might have removed it as a precaution.

This leaves Gi-hun completely isolated and vulnerable, just as he was in Squid Game Season 1. Additionally, he is given the same player number 456, to highlight that the players are nothing more than numbers in the competition.

Gi-hun constantly suffers to end the game as this time the competition comes with new twists and tasks. He assumed the tasks would be the same, but after entering the game, he realizes things have drastically changed.

Following his failed revolution and Front Man outsmarting Gi-hun, he has been put in danger again. It would be intriguing to watch how the series ends, and whether Gi-hun succeeds in accomplishing his mission.

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Also Read: Why is Squid Game Season 2 shorter than the first? Creator reveals the reason

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