The Best Front Man Moments In Squid Game

Season 2 of Squid Game saw the introduction of new characters and the return of old ones from the first season. In the first season, the Front Man (real name Hwang In-ho) captures your attention from the start, standing out with his intimidating black mask and deep, modulated voice. He is one of the most compelling characters in the series, with a complex backstory and conflicted motivations to boot.

Now he comes back as both the new Host and the Front Man after Il-nam’s death, joining the games as Player 001 to combat Gi-hun’s attempts to stop the Squid Game. Excellently portrayed by Lee Byung-hun, the Front Man has had an interesting story arc, so we thought it’s best to highlight some of his best moments in the show.

9

Laying Down The Law

Season 1, Episode 5

At the midway point of Season 1, the Front Man catches wind of an underhanded collaboration between a player and some of the guards. In return for information about future games, the player – who was a doctor – would help harvest the organs of dead players for the guards to sell.

Enraged at the notion that the equality aspect of the games has been compromised, the Front Man puts his foot down, mercilessly executing all involved. They were made an example of, their corpses hung above the stairs for everyone to see – a reminder of the penalty of cheating.

8

The Identity Reveal

Season 1, Episode 8

Aside from Gi-hun and the other players, Season 1’s story also follows Hwang Jun-ho, an undercover cop who is looking for his brother. He discovers that his brother, Hwang In-ho, was the winner of the 2015 Squid Game. However, Jun-ho’s undercover stint comes to an end after the Front Man notices that there is a mole among his men.

Cornered, the Front Man confronts Jun-ho and reveals that he is the very man he was looking for. It’s a rare moment of vulnerability from the Front Man, who, after his brother refuses to join him, realises that he has to make the painful decision to kill him.

7

Player 001 Makes His Entrance

Season 2, Episode 3

After Gi-hun returns to the Squid Game with the mission to take it down, In-ho isn’t going to let that slide. Although he didn’t join for ‘Red Light, Green Light‘ as Il-nam did, In-ho enters the game as Player 001, making the final decision that tips the balance in favour of those who wish to continue the game.

He turns around at just the last minute, making it one of the best plot twist moments in the show. He later introduces himself as Oh Young-il and begins his mission to battle Gi-hun’s philosophy and sabotage him.

6

Beating Up Thanos

Season 2, Episode 4

One of the newest antagonists among the players is Thanos, a famous rapper who has lost his fortune. Along with his crony Nam-gyu, they corner another player who was responsible for persuading Thanos and other investors to invest in a failed crypto coin and begin beating him up.

For some reason, In-ho decides to intervene. He overpowers and beats up Thanos and Nam-gyu easily, causing the two bullies to back off. Applauded for his heroism, this moment establishes In-ho as a player not to be messed with, and likely bought him points with Gi-hun and his allies.

5

Cheering With The Rest

Season 2, Episode 4

Despite his real intentions, sometimes the Front Man could get swept up in the moment. During the Pentathlon games, everyone’s eyes are on the trans character Cho Hyun-ju’s team, and tension is high since the two previous teams were killed.

When Hyun-ju’s team manages to win all the mini-games on time, the Front Man celebrates with everyone else, not afraid to show his happiness that the underdog team has prevailed.

4

Failing On Purpose

Season 2, Episode 5

The Front Man joins Gi-hun’s team, and they’re one of the last two teams to play the Pentathlon game. Things are going great for Gi-hun’s team, with each member passing each game on the first try. But it’s when we get to In-ho’s turn that things go awry for Gi-hun’s team, as In-ho fails repeatedly in the Spinning Top game.

It’s the first time we truly see In-ho unhinged, screaming, and slapping himself for his failure. However, it’s noted that the Front Man did this on purpose, as he’s left-handed and had been purposefully using his right hand to make himself fail – likely to keep Gi-hun on edge.

3

The Front Man’s Mask Slips

Season 2, Episode 6

During the final round of the Mingle game, the Front Man and Gi-hun’s best friend, Jung-bae, are faced with a dilemma. With the two running out of time and the other rooms are occupied, the Front Man does something drastic.

As Jung-bae is holding down the door to keep a player from busting in, In-ho wrestles with another player, one who was already in the room before either man entered. Likely to keep up appearances and stick to his disguise, In-ho snaps the man’s neck, ensuring that the two of them survive. Jung-bae becomes wary of In-ho, but he dies before he can warn Gi-hun.

2

Always In Control

Season 2, Episode 7

Although Gi-hun and his allies manage to take the guards‘ weapons and start their rebellion, this moment shows that the Front Man is always in control, and things do not happen unless he allows it. After taking one of the guards hostage and unmasking him, Gi-hun forces him to lead the group to the control room to find the Front Man.

It was when the guard was explaining that he needed his mask to open the door that he recognised just who Player 001 was. Since the guard was the lowest in the totem pole of the Squid Game hierarchy, it’s likely he wasn’t aware that Player 001 was the Front Man. It’s one of the best moments in the show, a testament to how much power In-ho wielded over his men.

1

The Perfect Final Act

Season 2, Episode 7

The last few minutes of the Season 2 finale were intense, with Gi-hun and his allies quickly being penned in and running out of ammo. In a last-ditch effort to reach the control room, In-ho volunteers to go on ahead with two other X players and clear out the guards from behind.

In a ruthless move, In-ho betrays and guns down the two players. He takes a walkie-talkie and gives the performance of a lifetime, using one of the players’ dying breaths to convince Gi-hun that Young-il is dead. Once done, he switches channels and coldly orders his men to ‘wrap things up’, officially returning to his role as the Front Man.