The second season of Squid Game has shattered Netflix viewership records, amassing 126.2 million views in just 11 days after its release in late December. As fans eagerly anticipate the third and final season—set to drop June 27, 2025, per a Netflix Korea announcement—a potential spoiler has stirred up speculation online, thanks to a now-deleted Instagram post from one of the show’s stars.
Park Gyu-young’s Post Sparks Plot Theories
Park Gyu-young, who plays Kang No-eul—a conflicted Squid Game guard—shared an image on her Instagram that has fans theorizing about major developments in the upcoming season. The blurry photo showed Park on set, dressed in the series’ iconic pink guard uniform, alongside an unidentified man. Fans believe the man could be Lee Jin-wook, who played Park Gyeong-seok, a contestant from Season 2.
This detail has ignited speculation that Park Gyeong-seok may return in Season 3, possibly as a guard.
From Contestant to Guard?
In Season 2, Park Gyeong-seok was spared early in the deadly Red Light, Green Light game when Kang No-eul hesitated to shoot him, recognizing his desperation to save his sick daughter. However, he later met a grim fate after joining an unsuccessful rebellion against the Squid Game organizers.
If Lee Jin-wook’s character is indeed alive and returning as a guard, there are several possible explanations:
1. The Organ Harvesting Connection: Guards in the Squid Game were revealed to be involved in an illicit organ-harvesting operation. Contestants shot but not killed were sometimes kept alive for this grim purpose. It’s possible Gyeong-seok survived his gunshot wounds.
2. Kang No-eul’s Intervention: Kang No-eul, shown to be deeply uneasy with her role, might have facilitated Gyeong-seok’s survival and arranged for him to become a guard.
3. Recruitment by the Front Man: The series has established that former Squid Game contestants can rise in the ranks. The Front Man himself was a past winner who transitioned to an authoritative role.
Or Is It a Red Herring?
Of course, there’s also the possibility that the blurry figure in the photo is someone else entirely, and the speculation is misplaced. Fans will have to wait until the series finale airs to uncover the truth.
With Squid Game’s penchant for shocking twists and moral dilemmas, the third season promises to be as intense and unpredictable as ever. Stay tuned for more updates as we inch closer to the June 2025 release!
