Gong Yoo’s Recruiter Steals the Spotlight in Squid Game Season 2

Gong Yoo’s enigmatic Recruiter returns in Squid Game Season 2, delivering a masterclass in charisma and menace. From the moment he steps into the spotlight, the character reclaims his status as the show’s most intriguing figure, this time with a more expanded role.

Fans of Squid Game will remember the Recruiter, also known as the Salesman, as the sharply dressed figure whose subway station ddakji games served as a brutal introduction to the series’ anti-capitalist themes. Played by the beloved South Korean actor Gong Yoo, the Recruiter became an instant “problematic fave,” blending charm and violence with unsettling ease. Despite his brief screen time in Season 1, the character inspired viral fan devotion and iconic headlines like Vulture’s “So You Want Gong Yoo to Slap You. Now What?”

In the Season 2 premiere, titled “Bread and Lottery,” Gong Yoo’s Recruiter shines in scenes that expand on his sadistic philosophy. His actions—ruthlessly testing the desperation of society’s most downtrodden—underscore the show’s central critique of systemic inequality. This time, the Recruiter’s psychological games extend beyond subway platforms to public parks, where he offers impoverished people a grim choice between bread and lottery tickets.

When most choose the lottery, his dark sense of humor emerges: he gives each person a coin to scratch the cards but takes it back when they lose. Finally, in a chilling display of cruelty, he dumps the uneaten bread onto the ground and mocks the group, claiming they’ve discarded the food themselves. His tantrum—complete with Jokerlike theatrics—offers a rare glimpse of the Recruiter losing his composure before he regains his signature poise.

Meanwhile, the larger story of Squid Game Season 2 continues with Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), Player 456, refusing to return to a quiet life. Instead, Gi-hun dedicates his newfound fortune to dismantling the sinister organization behind the games. Joining him is Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon), the determined cop from Season 1, who has his own unfinished business with the Front Man—who, in a twist, is revealed to be Jun-ho’s estranged brother, In-ho.

Season 2 shifts its focus from exposing the horrors of capitalism to exploring whether one individual can truly lead a revolution. As Gi-hun and Jun-ho infiltrate the games to take down the Front Man, they encounter a new group of contestants, each battling their own dire circumstances. Yet, the Recruiter remains pivotal, his role as both a gatekeeper and tormentor driving much of the action.

With Season 3 already greenlit, it’s clear that Gi-hun’s quest for justice won’t be resolved quickly. However, Gong Yoo’s expanded role ensures that the Recruiter’s complex, morally ambiguous character will continue to captivate audiences—and remind them why he’s one of the show’s most unforgettable creations.