Squid Game Season 2: He’s the character we see the least, but he’s probably the worst… here’s why

Warning, spoilers! This article shows the plot elements of the first episode of Season 2 of Squid Game. If you haven’t seen it yet and don’t want to know what it’s all about, read no further.

He is one of the featured characters in Squid Game. The recruiter, played by Gong Yoo, remains a mystery throughout the first episode of the series. He appears only briefly, but his presence leaves a deep impression on the audience. He first appears by mobilizing Ji-hoon for a deadly game in the subway.

However, during a scene in the park in the first episode of the second season, where he confronts the homeless, his true nature is revealed. A recruiter offers a stark choice between a loaf of bread or a lottery ticket. A lottery in which no one wins.

The scene takes an even more embarrassing turn when she smashes the remaining cookies on the ground in front of this hungry crowd. This gratuitous act of violence is not only a gesture of contempt, but a sign of deep hatred. Why such cruelty?

Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator of the series, announced this Radio Times that the recruiter personifies a man consumed by self-loathing. For him, this violence against others is a way to rise above them, which he considers nothing less.

A tortured psychology behind a well-groomed appearance

The Recruiter is, paradoxically, one of the most hated characters in the Squid Game, despite his flawless appearance and brief appearance. Hwang Dong-hyuk opens the curtain on this character: “This is someone who has lived a difficult, harsh and hopeless life, just like the homeless people on the show.“

For the creator, this character is a reflection of isolation and inner pain, where the desire to feel superior leads to inhumanity. “He is a man so full of self-loathing that he expresses himself in the hatred he has for other people. And by hating these people, he believes himself to be different from them“, he said.

When interacting with the homeless, he chooses to humiliate them rather than help them, which proves that his cruelty is not only related to games, but also to a destructive mindset. The scene of the broken bread is a symbol of absolute contempt for human dignity. This is the moment when we understand that the recruiter is not just a gamer, but a person who finds his strength in the suffering of others.

Gong Yoo: An actor who serves a complex character

Although the Recruiter only appears in the first episode of Season 2, Gong Yoo’s interpretation leaves a strong impression. Lee Jung-jae, who plays Ji-hoon, expressed his admiration for Gong Yoo’s performance. He noted that although the recruiter’s appearance is brief, he plays a crucial role in the development of the story. “Gong Yoo does a great job setting up the story, preparing the audience for what’s to come.“- he said.

This performance highlights the depth of a character whose brief presence is anything but anecdotal. The Recruiter, though shrouded in mystery, symbolizes one of the darkest aspects of the Squid Game: the way in which individuals, consumed by their own pain, seek to feel superior to others, even if it means destroying them.

A figure of hatred and dehumanization

The Recruiter doesn’t just play games, it embodies a more insidious evil that lurks behind small everyday actions. The fact that he is both victim and executioner makes his character even more exciting.

This is a character archetype that, although not very noticeable, has a profound effect on the atmosphere of Squid Game. His disgusting behavior goes beyond the games: it’s the result of a broken life, and it’s perhaps his most terrifying aspect.