The tournament begins with , where players who move after the "Red Light" command are immediately executed by snipers. Following a massacre, the survivors use a clause in their contract to vote and end the games, returning to their desperate lives. However, realizing that their reality is just as hellish as the game, Gi-hun and many others eventually choose to return for the massive prize money. As the games progress, Gi-hun forms an alliance with:
: A North Korean defector trying to reunite her family. Squid Game - Season 1
: After Sang-woo murders a weakened Sae-byeok, he and Gi-hun face off in the titular Squid Game . In a brutal fight, Gi-hun eventually wins but refuses to kill his friend. Instead, Sang-woo takes his own life to ensure Gi-hun receives the prize money for both their families. The Ending and Major Twist The tournament begins with , where players who
A year after winning, a traumatized Gi-hun receives a final invitation and discovers that is still alive. Il-nam reveals he is the creator of the games, which he designed for his own amusement and that of other bored, wealthy "VIPs". After Il-nam dies of natural causes, Gi-hun dyes his hair red and prepares to fly to the U.S. to see his daughter. However, upon seeing the recruiter at the subway station again, he chooses to stay in Korea, determined to expose and stop the organization behind the games. As the games progress, Gi-hun forms an alliance