Squid Game: Heartbreaking Stories of Characters Who Abandoned Their Families

Summary

Characters in Squid Game abandon loved ones for the games, leading to heart-wrenching deaths & betrayals.
The main characters, like Gi-hun and Sang-woo, neglect their families, focusing solely on the games.
The theme of abandonment runs strong in the series, showcasing the devastating impact on families.

The gripping series known as “Squid Game” holds its viewers spellbound with its harrowing portrayal of ruthless survival contests. These contests single out individuals in dire straits, amplifying their desperation to such an extent that they’re prepared to perform unimaginable acts for a chance to win the prize money. Consequently, power plays, abandonment, and mortality have been recurrent motifs throughout the “Squid Game” saga.

Among the diverse cast of characters involved in the games – as players, guards, or those responsible for overseeing the process – several have abandoned their beloved family members. This could be due to a forced separation while escaping their homeland, or a heartrending demise during the games. In the series Squid Game, these six characters bid farewell to their loved ones and were never heard from again.

6. Seong Gi-hun

His Involvement in the Games Was For His Family, But He’s Been Absent Ever Since

Name	Player Number	Reason For Entering Games	Fate
Seong Gi-hun	Player 456	Unemployment & gambling debts	Alive

Before joining the games, Gi-hun was presented as a less than ideal father, to put it mildly. He had been jobless and found himself deeply entrenched in gambling, leading him into heavy debt. However, against all expectations, he managed to win a large sum of money that could have given him a chance at a new beginning where he could reconnect with his daughter. Yet, this victory only seemed to reignite his obsession with the games once more.

Throughout the series, Gi-hun hasn’t taken a single trip to see his daughter after the time jump. In fact, apart from a solitary phone call where he didn’t utter a word, we haven’t seen much interaction between them. Many viewers find it disappointing that Gi-hun has been estranged from his daughter throughout the series, hoping that they might reconcile before the series ends for good.

5. Ali Abdul

Left His Entire Family Behind in One of the Most Heart-Wrenching Deaths

Name	Player Number	Reason For Entering Games	Fate
Ali Abdul	Player 199	To financially support his family	Deceased – Marbles game

Ali was one of those individuals who seemed overly kind-hearted, almost to a fault. Originating from Pakistan, Ali faced challenges in supporting his loved ones after his boss failed to pay him for his labor. This unresolved problem grew more persistent, causing Ali to grow increasingly anxious about meeting the family’s expenses. In desperation, he decided to participate in games with hopes of claiming the winnings. Tragically, his family would never see him again.

The tragic aspect of this situation is that Ali was an exceptionally kind and sincere individual in this competition, and his demise seemed to be a cruel twist of deceit, betrayal, and manipulation. In the marbles game, Sang-woo deceived Ali, causing him to give up his marbles unknowingly – leading to his elimination. Among all, Ali was one of the strongest candidates to leave the games and reunite with his loved ones. Moreover, given that he seemed to be a significant source of income for his family, his death may significantly worsen their financial situation and possibly push them further into hardship.

4. Cho Sang-woo

Left His Mother Behind Without a Word

Name	Player Number	Reason For Entering Games	Fate
Cho Sang-woo	Player 218	Debts & arrest warrants for financial fraud	Deceased – Squid Game

Sang-Woo, despite his privileged background as an investment banker and alumnus of a prestigious university, faced a devastating downfall due to poor investments and subsequent financial ruin. This decline led to allegations of financial fraud, prompting an arrest warrant. Tragically, it seems that he left his mother long before his demise or participation in the games.

After a collision with her, it became evident that she believed Gi-hun was thriving and had merely distanced himself due to the demands of his own life. However, the reality was far more dire; he’d vanished entirely after losing everything that defined his success, found himself in these games as a desperate attempt to escape his predicament, and ultimately breathed his last in the final leg. The most poignant aspect of his tale was that even in his dying moments, he was still concerned about this very mother he had abandoned, pleading with Gi-hun to look after her.

3. Kang Sae-byeok

Left Her Mother Behind in North Korea & Left Her Brother To Participate in the Games

Name	Player Number	Reason For Entering Games	Fate
Kang Sae-byeok	Player 067	Earn money to pay a broker (Bring her mother to South Korea / free her brother from the shelter)	Deceased – murdered by Sang-woo following injuries from the Glass Bridge game.

Kang Sae-byeok is another cherished character who has touched the hearts of numerous people. Being one of the youngest contestants in the games, Sae-byeok had to escape from North Korea with her family, resulting in the death of her father and her mother’s capture. Left behind in South Korea were Sae-byeok and her younger brother. Struggling to make ends meet for their survival, she was also determined to earn enough money to bring her mother to them safely and secure her brother’s release from the shelter.

In a heartrending sequence of events, I found myself standing before my younger brother, unbeknownst to him that it would be our last encounter. Tragically, I disappeared without a trace, leaving him alone for an uncertain future. The poignancy of my departure lies in the fact that we had already endured countless hardships and been separated from our parents. This boy, unfortunately, has lost his entire family piece by piece. Though he may never know what became of me, I was always thinking of him during the games. Therefore, it is my promise to Gi-hun that he will be cared for if anything should happen to me.

2. Kang No-eul

Left Her Daughter Behind When She Defected From North Korea

Name	Player Number	Reason For Entering Games	Fate
Kang No-eul	Number 011 (Guard)	Earn money to find her lost daughter	Alive

In Season 2 of Squid Game, we meet Kang No-eul, a character who offers a unique perspective as a game guard. Before joining the games, No-eul was once a soldier in North Korea, but she defected by tragically killing her superior officer. This selfless act came at a heavy cost: she had to leave behind her newborn baby for the sake of freedom. This choice weighed heavily on No-eul and has haunted her ever since, as her lost child remains a constant presence in her thoughts.

For Kang No-eul, her baby remains a top concern, and making money to find her lost daughter seems to be her primary, or possibly sole, motivation for joining the games. Interestingly, she has been depicted in flashbacks visiting the same broker that Sae-byeok did, aiming to facilitate her mother’s border crossing. Viewers of the show are excitedly anticipating what lies ahead for Kang No-eul and whether she might reconnect with her long-lost child before the series concludes.

1. Hwang In-ho / The Front Man

Is The Long Lost Brother of Detective Jun-ho

Name	Player Number	Reason For Entering Games	Fate
Hwang In-ho	Player 001 (Season 2) Player 132 (Past)	To pay for his pregnant wife’s liver transplant	Alive

The Leader Character, known for his shady reputation, initially guides Gi-hun through his initial rounds of play and ensures everything proceeds without a hitch. Interestingly, this individual himself had previously emerged victorious in these games. His motivation was the significant cash prize intended to cover his wife’s liver transplant costs during pregnancy. Tragically, he learned after winning that it was already beyond saving.

After that, he relinquished his previous existence to assume the role of the lead character, forsaking a younger sibling named Hwang Jun-ho. Originally, In-ho discarded his life and severed all ties, but Jun-ho leveraged his abilities as a police officer to infiltrate the games as a security personnel. In Season 2, In-ho reenters the games, however, not as The Front Man, but as a player similar to Oh Il-nam from Season 1. Therefore, it’s probable that viewers will learn more about him and perhaps witness a resolution between him and his brother before the end of the series.

2025-04-16 09:35