According to a Squid Game season 2 theory, Il-nam might be the Front Man’s father. As bizarre as it may sound, the theory has been backed with some concrete plot developments that make it hard not to speculate if it might actually be true. While only time will tell whether any Squid Game season 2 characters are related to Il-nam, the theory paves the way for several intriguing story beats for the third and final season of the Netflix Korean show.

Since Squid Game season 2 ends on an ambiguous note, it is not surprising that many viewers are questioning and drawing on their own theories about how the final season will unfold. While the most popular Squid Game theory revolves around Gi-hun and his gradual moral descent, many others focus on the fates of other Squid Game season 2 players like Hyun-ju and Jun-hee. A scene from seasons 1 and 2 has also prompted viewers to wonder if Il-nam and Front Man could be related, raising many questions about the Front Man’s shrouded past.

Why The Front Man Has Been Theorized To Be Il-nam’s Son

One Scene Has Convinced Many Viewers That The Two Characters Are Related

In Squid Game season 2, In-ho offers Jun-hee his milk carton, claiming he does not drink plain milk. Many viewers have connected this scene with a season 1 moment in which Gi-hun prefers taking chocolate milk instead of plain milk, prompting Il-nam to recall how his son “got spanked a lot” because he did the same. Based on the scenes from seasons 1 and 2, many have theorized that In-ho might be lactose intolerant, explaining why he gives his milk carton to Jun-hee.

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Since Il-nam’s statement about his son also implies he was lactose intolerant, viewers cannot help but believe that In-ho is his son. However, a closer look at the two scenes suggests that viewers are reading too deeply into two seemingly insignificant scenes. Instead of explicitly mentioning that he is lactose intolerant, In-ho merely says that he does not prefer drinking plain milk. In season 1, Il-nam, too, says nothing about lactose intolerance and only mentions his son was fussy about having milk. This makes the theory a little less plausible but not entirely unconvincing.

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What The Front Man Being Il-nam’s Son Would Mean For Squid Game

Front Man Must Be Carrying His Father’s Vision Of The Game Forward

Custom Image by Yailin Chacon

Since Squid Game has always managed to surprise viewers with its fascinating twists and turns, anything can happen in season 3. Owing to this, even the theory above could turn out to be true. If the two characters are revealed to be related, it would bring an intriguing twist to the Front Man’s backstory. In Squid Game season 2, the Front Man tells Gi-hun that he participated in the games to be able to afford his wife’s treatment after her liver failed. Squid Game has confirmed that Jun-ho is In-ho’s younger paternal half-brother, which could make Il-nam In-ho’s biological father.

Although In-ho’s wife passed away, he felt indebted to his father, Il-nam, for giving him the chance to turn his life around.

Given how the Front Man’s backstory suggests he was financially struggling before he joined the games, he probably did not know Il-nam was his father. He only learned about his father’s identity after winning the games, realizing that his father’s creation helped him save his wife. Although In-ho’s wife passed away, he felt indebted to his father, Il-nam, for giving him the chance to turn his life around. As a result, he agreed to carry his vision and legacy forward by becoming the Front Man.

Il-nam Was Likely A Mentor Figure To In-ho After He Won The Games

The Front Man Likely Looked Up To Il-nam

Despite being interesting, the theory connecting Il-nam and the Front Man does not seem plausible enough to hold up under closer scrutiny. While the show might still throw a curveball and confirm Il-nam is Front Man’s father, it seems unlikely the two characters are related. However, given how the Front Man loyally safeguards the games and ensures external forces like Gi-hun do not stop them, he seems to respect Il-nam’s vision and hopes to preserve the integrity and secrecy of the games.

Squid Game Key Facts Breakdown

Created By
Hwang Dong-hyuk

Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Score (After Season 2)
90%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score (After Season 2)
74%

Budget
US$21.4 million in Season 1 and ₩100 billion in Seasons 2 and 3 combined

In Squid Game season 2, the Front Man also adopts the same strategy as Il-nam by getting involved in the games as Player 001. Like Il-nam, he also cannot help but enjoy the games and see them through the eyes of a child, suggesting that Il-nam may have instilled a similar sense of wonder in him. Since Il-nam’s invention gave the Front Man the opportunity to earn money and save his wife when even his own family members backed out, he might have also looked up to him as a mentor or maybe even a father figure, which might have encouraged Il-nam to make him the next Front Man.

Gi-hun Was Also Theorized To Be Il-nam’s Son In Squid Game Season 1

The Gi-hun & Il-nam Connection Seems Less Likely After Season 2

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Based on the milk carton scene, many viewers also suspected that Gi-hun could be the son Il-nam is referring to because he, too, “got spanked” for not liking milk when he was a child. Some viewers also pointed out that Squid Game season 1 only features Gi-hun’s mother but not his father, which could be another solid hint revealing a hidden familial connection. During one of the games, the two characters also learn they used to live in the same region and share the same fascination with childhood playground games.

Squid Game season 3 is scheduled to be released on Netflix in 2025.

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However, this theory was later dismissed because many pointed out that Gi-hun would have had some memories of his father and what he looked like, given how he was around to spank him when he was younger. The way Il-nam lovingly talks about his family also suggests he did not abandon them and would never let his son and wife live in poverty. Despite all the contradictions, Squid Game season 2 might find creative ways to draw unexpected connections and present unforeseeable twists. However, it seems unlikely that Il-nam was related to Gi-hun or In-ho by blood.