KEY Takeaways:
- Squid Game punishes cruelty—many villains meet violent ends fitting their crimes.
- Betrayal, manipulation, and sadism often seal a character’s fate in the show.
- These deaths serve as harsh reminders of the moral decay under pressure.
Squid Game is notorious for its brutal storylines and gut-wrenching character arcs, but not every death was a tragedy. Some characters were so morally compromised, violent, or self-serving that their demise felt like poetic justice. Across three seasons, a handful of these contestants and organizers sealed their fates through greed, betrayal, and cruelty.
1. Jang Deok-su (Player 101) – Betrayed and Killed by His Victim
From the moment he stepped into the game in Season 1, Jang Deok-su proved himself as a remorseless gangster. He murdered during lights-out chaos, intimidated weaker players, and betrayed allies for survival. His ultimate betrayal came when he abandoned Mi-nyeo during team selection. In one of the series’ most memorable moments, Mi-nyeo took him down with her during the Glass Stepping Stones game in a fitting murder-suicide, ending his reign of terror.
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2. Nam-gyu (Player 124) – A Killer Taken Out by Strategy
Nam-gyu stood out in Season 3 for his aggressive and sadistic behavior. Not only did he murder multiple contestants during nighttime chaos, but he also partnered with Player 333 to hunt down passed players during Hide and Seek. His penchant for bullying and violence made him one of the most hated players. He was finally outwitted and thrown to his death by Min-su during the Jump Rope game—an end that felt well-earned.
3. Im Jeong-dae (Player 100) – Master Manipulator Meets His Fall
Jeong-dae didn’t need to kill directly to be deadly. A master of manipulation, he convinced many to continue the games, pushing for more rounds to boost the prize pool. He orchestrated betrayals and trapped allies, even attempting to kill a baby in the final game. His treacherous streak came to an end when Player 333 pushed him to his death.
4. The Recruiter – Enjoyed Human Suffering
The smiling face of death from Season 2, the Recruiter took sadistic joy in preying on desperate people. He openly admitted to killing his own father and made men play deadly games for amusement. In poetic irony, his end came at the barrel of a gun during a game of Russian Roulette with Gi-hun.
5. Lee Myung-gi (Player 333, aka MG Coin) – Chose Greed Over Redemption
While he initially appeared conflicted and even voted to end the games for the sake of his pregnant ex, Lee Myung-gi’s darker instincts prevailed. He attacked players post-clearance, endangered his newborn child, and ultimately proved he couldn’t be redeemed. He met his end in the final game—a fall as brutal as his betrayal.
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