It’s official: the second season of Squid Game has taken over the globe once more! Beyond the deadly competition, this installment has it all in the cast -from K-pop idols turned actors to surprise cameo artits, there’s plenty to fangirl (and fanboy) over.
Let’s count down five major K-pop connections in Squid Game Season 2:
05. Park Gyuyoung (Noeul)
Park Gyuyoung nearly had a brief splash in the K-pop world after being scouted by JYP Entertainment as a teen. She was part of music videos for popular acts like DAY6 and Jo Kwon. Now she’s wowing Squid Game fans on the small screen.
04. Im Siwan (Lee Myunggi or “Contestant 333”)
![제아파이브[ZE:A-FIVE] 헤어지던 날(The day we broke up) Music Video](https://www.musicmundial.com/en/wp-content/cache/flying-press/1M1beIdYUl0-hqdefault.jpg)
Im Siwan’s path to stardom began in K-pop, debuting in 2010 as part of ZE:A under Star Empire. The group never shot straight to No.1, so after years with his bandmates, he eventually kicked open the door to acting.
03. Jo Yuri (Kim Junhee or “Contestant 222”)
Jo Yuri first sang her way into the spotlight on Idol School and Produce 48, eventually getting a third place to form the smash-hit group IZ*ONE. Post-group, she’s launched her own solo career. With Squid Game, she’s branching into drama and keeping her K-pop crown gleaming.
02. T.O.P (Thanos or “Contestant 230”)
He might go by Thanos in the show, but T.O.P is K-pop royalty to fans of BIGBANG. Starting out as an underground rapper before signing with YG Entertainment, he quickly rose to K-pop stardom. In 2022, he parted ways with YG, and by 2023, he’d stepped back from BIGBANG altogether. Now, the multifaceted star is charting new territory in acting.
01. Wi Ha-joon (Hwang Junho)
Before his big break in Squid Game, Wi Ha-joon studied theater and film at Sungkyul University. In 2018, he dropped a surprise single called “Maybe It’s Too Late” for the Matrimonial Chaos soundtrack. In Season 2, he continues to prove he can do it all—sing, act, and steal hearts.
