This article contains major spoilers for Squid Game.
Few Netflix originals have had as big of a cultural impact as Squid Game. The show's sets, plot twists, character development, and shock value have made it addictive viewing for people around the world. Another reason the show has become so popular is its unique characters that trigger different kinds of emotions in viewers.
Each of the characters in the critically-acclaimed K-drama has a clear-cut personality. Sae-byeok's preference for not saying much? Jun-ho's extraordinary courage? Sang-woo's backstabbing ways? Find out what your favorite character says about your personality.
Oh Il-nam
Oh Il-nam, aka Player 001, is first introduced as an elderly man who has opted to join the games because he is suffering from a brain tumor. A nice man who kept mostly to himself, the other characters found him endearing–but he is later revealed to be the Game's actual organizer.
Il-nam's fans are great pretenders, glad to masquerade as other people in order to achieve a specified objective. For this reason, it can take even their closest friends a while to discover who they truly are. And just as the elderly billionaire doesn't allow his health condition to prevent him from enjoying life, those intrigued by Il-nam's exploits never feel sorry for themselves. Instead, they choose to have as much fun as possible, even when it's at the expense of others.
Seong Gi-hun
Debt, a poor living condition, and the inability to financially support his daughter leave Gi-hun with no other option than to sign up for the Games. Also known as Player 456, he manages to emerge the victor through a combination of luck and strategy.
Any Gi-hun admirer is likely to be compassionate. In the same way that Gi-hun looks out for II-nam, his admirers care about the welfare of others even more than their own. They also have a high sense of morality. Gi-hun almost gives up the prize money and foregoes an opportunity to go to the US to see his daughters that he can make the organizers pay. Fans of the character are also likely to sacrifice personal opportunities and their own safety if they believe they can fix something wrong that's happening in society.
Cho Sang-woo
Drowning in debt and being hunted by the police for defrauding investors, Sang-woo chooses to go to the island as a way to escape reality and possibly find a way to right all his financial wrongs. He makes it all the way to the final stage where Gi-hun gets the better of him.
Every viewer that relates with Sang-woo is likely to be cutthroat, relentless, and a little badass. The character does everything he can to win, even if means pushing fellow players down glass bridges and stabbing others, for example. Fans of Sang-woo may see no problem in breaking the law or doing bad deeds so long as a specific objective is achieved.
Hwang Jun-ho
Bothered by the disappearance of his brother, Seoul police officer Jun-ho conducts investigations that lead him to the island. There, he makes plenty of shocking discoveries. Those like Jun-ho are known to be fearless. Even when a situation is extremely dangerous, they don't mind handling it by themselves.
Those whose traits mirror Jun-ho's may also believe in ridding evil from the world and bringing justice to the world. They might not always turn out successful in their endeavors to make people pay for sins, but they sure will try.
Han Mi-nyeo
The boisterous Mi-nyeo, aka Player 212, isn't given a proper background like other characters, but still has quite the arc during the show's nine episodes. During the Games, she falls for the gangster Deok-su but he betrays her, leading her to sacrifice herself to kill him out of bitterness.
Bets will be on all Mi-nyeo fans to be as loud and chatty as her. Letting go of people they care about is extremely difficult for them, and those who resonate with her actions may have problems with attachment in their relationships. On the darker side, they can be very vengeful. Deok-su pays dearly when Mi-nyeo grabs him and falls to death with her. Though they might not go to such extremes, Mi-nyeo fans will be quick to exert payback on those who scarred their hearts, and rightfully so.
Kang Sae-byeok
The North-Korean defector joins the games so that she can afford to pay a rescuer to save her family. She ends up in the group of the final three players but is murdered by Sang-Woo right before the last stage.
Sae-byeok's fans relate with her because they'd also do anything for their families. They tend to be kind and introspective. Despite their calm nature, they're extremely competitive and often surprise everyone by excelling in tasks that would otherwise be fit for louder personalities. And in an almost similar fashion that Sae-byeok handles pain after being injured during the glass explosions, her fans are likely to demonstrate impressive levels of endurance too.
Hwang In-ho (The Frontman)
As the operations manager, The Frontman is often seen watching the proceedings via monitors. His identity remains hidden for the most part but in one of the biggest plot twists in Squid Game, he is revealed to be Jun-ho's brother who was also the victor back in 2015.
The Frontman has a Darth Vader-type of mystique around him and his fans unquestionably adore that. Those who root for the character enjoy being in positions of leadership.
Abdul Ali
The Pakistani immigrant worker ranks high among the most likable characters in Squid Game. He is cash-strapped because his boss won't pay him his dues. With a family to provide for, he risks death in order to get a chance at winning billions.
Viewers rooting for Ali are courteous. They never forget to show gratitude and address people by their respective titles. They'll behave in exactly the same way Ali does when Sang-woo hands him bus fare before they join the games. Actions such as saving Gi-hun during the "Red Light/Green Light" games are likely to be repeated by viewers that like the character too. They won't sit and watch someone fail. Unfortunately for them, they can be overly trusting, something that causes them more harm than good in return.
Jang Deok-su
Deok-su has the perfect gangster face, always serious and whenever he smiles, it's more of a smirk. Once a powerful crime boss, he loses glory due to massive gambling debts, which results in insubordination from his henchmen. He, therefore, tries to fix things by signing up for the games.
Viewers that sympathize with Deok-su are natural bullies. They are ever-ready to torment those they consider weak. Greed is a common trait in them too. The gangster takes more food and doesn't care that others will miss out. They also don't keep their word and will be quick to betray others the way Deok-su betrays Mi-nyeo.
Byeong-gi
Byeong-gi is introduced as a quack doctor who is secretly working with some of the guards to harvest organs from dead victims. He later falls out with them after they fail to provide him information for the next round of the Games.
Byeong-gi's fans aren't known to play fair. They will always find a way to have an unfair advantage over others in any given situation. They are also impatient and are generally not understanding. Byeong-gi ruins the whole secret operation just because he won't be patient enough for the information he's been promised. His fans have probably found themselves making reckless decisions due to a lack of patience.