Who plays Player 001 (aka The Front Man) in Squid Game season 2?

However, his mission is soon set down a dangerous path by Lee Byung-hun's chilling villain The Front Man, who it's revealed will be competing in the games as Player 001 at the beginning of the series in a stunning twist.

This continues a trend set up in the first season, when sympathetic older man Oh Il-nam (played by O Yeong-su) held the title of Player 001 – and also turned out to be secretly involved in the running of the Squid Game.

The shocking development has major implications for the rest of season 2 as The Front Man – real name Hwang In-ho – worms his way into the inner circle of returning champion Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae).

However, viewers and players alike would be wise to keep him at arm's length as it seems only a matter of time until he returns to his rightful place as the twisted orchestrator of the Squid Game.

Season 2 marks an expanded role for the character and actor Lee Byung-hun, who has previously appeared in several Hollywood blockbusters, making him a major name in both Korean and American cinema.

Here's everything you need to know about him and his villainous Squid Game character: Player 001 aka The Front Man.

Who is The Front Man in Squid Game? His real identity explained

The Front Man appears to be the most senior figure inside the Squid Game, tasked with ensuring the twisted event goes smoothly and pleases its super-rich spectators.

His real name is Hwang In-ho, and he is the older brother of police officer Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon), who infiltrated the game in season 1 in search of his long-lost sibling.

In an intense confrontation, In-ho unmasked himself before Jun-ho, revealing who he had become, before ordering his soldiers to open fire on his little brother – an attack he only barely survived.

It remains unknown precisely how In-ho came to assume the role of The Front Man, with possibilities ranging from being a former champion to an employee who worked his way up from the bottom, much like The Salesman (Gong Yoo).

Why does The Front Man join Squid Game as Player 001?

The Front Man seemingly joins the Squid Game to get to know his nemesis, Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), and to keep a close eye on him in case he attempts to disrupt the proceedings.

While previous Squid Game plant Oh Il-nam was apparently never in grave danger – having been extracted after his elimination and returned to his private hospital bed – it's unclear whether that is the case for The Front Man too.

There are moments during the games where he appears to be genuinely panicked, but this may be an act to keep Gi-hun and his allies from detecting him.

Only time will tell how this deception plays out. Squid Game season 3 can't come soon enough!

Who plays Player 001 (aka The Front Man) in Squid Game season 2?

Lee Byung-hun plays Player 001 aka The Front Man in Squid Game season 2, reprising his role from a guest appearance in the previous run.

The actor is a major star in South Korea, making his brief stint in the first season a major win for Hwang Dong-hyuk's then-unknown show, but Western audiences may also know Lee Byung-hun from several Hollywood gigs.

He played the role of Storm Shadow in GI Joe: Rise of the Cobra and its 2013 sequel Retaliation, while that same summer he also appeared in the action comedy Red 2 as an adversary to Bruce Willis's gang of retired spies.

Lee also appeared as a T-1000 in ill-fated reboot Terminator Genisys and played Billy Rocks, one of the titular Seven, in Chris Pratt and Denzel Washington's The Magnificent Seven remake.

Age: 54

Instagram: @byunghun0712

Followers (as of 2nd January): 930,000

Squid Game seasons 1-2 are available to stream on Netflix. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on.

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