When we were kids, we would play just like this, and our moms would call us in for dinner. But no one calls us anymore.
Sang-woo to Seong Gi-hun during his final moments in "One Lucky Day"
Cho Sang-woo (조상우 Jo Sang-u?), also known as Player 218, was a contestant in the 33rd Squid Game in 2020,[2] and one of the finalists of the competition.
The childhood best friend of Seong Gi-hun, Sang-woo went to the prestigious Seoul National University and became a successful investment banker, but got in heavy debt after failing in his investments, with a warrant later put out for his arrest charging him with forgery, embezzlement and other crimes related to financial fraud. This led to him participating in the Squid Games. He helped Gi-hun and others in their alliance, particularly befriending Ali Abdul. However, to ensure his own survival, he became more ruthless as the games progressed. Sang-woo resorted to manipulation to win the Marbles game, betraying Ali and leaving him to die. He later murdered Kang Sae-byeok, to keep himself in the games.
Sang-woo was one of the two players to make it into the final round of the competition, along with Gi-hun, who by then was his rival. The two childhood friends faced off in Squid Game, in which Gi-hun defeated him. Refusing to claim his victory, Gi-hun attempted to end the games prematurely by invoking clause 3 of the consent form, hoping to secure a majority vote to end the game and save his friend's life. However, Sang-woo decided to commit suicide by stabbing himself in the neck, allowing Gi-hun to be winner of the competition. As a final request before his death, Sang-woo asked Gi-hun to use some of the prize winnings to help his mother.
Personality
I'm alive right now because I tried damn hard to stay alive.
Sang-woo arguing with Seong Gi-hun in "Front Man"
Sang-woo's main trait is his intelligence. He is an extremely bright person and capable of quickly figuring out solutions to problems, even in extremely stressful and life-threatening situations, which is demonstrated when he saved his team during the Tug of War game.[3][4] Sang-woo relies mostly on logic than on emotion to make his decisions. He also has a strong determination to accomplish his goals. However, this also makes him willing to resort to questionable means to ensure his success. Sang-woo is not easily fooled and is capable of manipulating people, a trait he employs to his advantage during the Marbles game of the 33rd Squid Game. Sang-woo is determined to win the competition, as he views it as his final chance to solve his financial issues, and knows fully well that he will have to go to great lengths to win.
Sang-woo spying on his mother
Being in heavy debt after failing in his investments caused him to become desperate, especially because his mother's belongings would be confiscated after he used them as financial collateral in failed investments. As a former Business Administration student of SNU, his entire neighborhood, including his mother, had high expectations for his future. Because of his immense failure, he is not able to face his mother and tell her the truth. The failure also nearly drives him to commit suicide in his motel restroom after the games were halted due to a majority vote, before being offered another chance to play the Squid Game.[5]
Despite being a rational with a calculated nature, and also apparently fully self-centered and cold-blooded by the end of the competition, he isn't really cold-hearted.[6][7] Helping his mother is the sole reason he decided to enter the Squid Game in the first place and his entire drive to win the games stems from the fact that he needs the prize money to prevent her from being left destitute by his own mistakes, showing that he genuinely cares about her. Outside the games, he is shown to be polite and friendly, which is seen when he assists Ali Abdul with getting a bus ride home in Seoul.[5] This behavior remains throughout most of the games. Sang-woo acts as a good teammate, being the brains of his and Gi-hun's group, helping them to make the decisions and plans along with Seong Gi-hun, with the two of them usually operating as co-leaders despite their team not officially having a leader. Sang-woo shows to be willing to help others when his own life is not at risk. He helps Gi-hun during the Red Light, Green Light game by telling him that the doll is a motion sensor.[8] When Player 271 gets beaten to death, Sang-woo is seen holding Gi-hun back from jumping in to protect him and is the first person to check on the man, being genuinely upset to see had passed away from his injuries. Sang-woo later goes to Gi-hun's rescue during the Special Round (when Jang Deok-su and his gang are murdering the other contestants) and he saves his friend from the attackers before helping their team to protect Kang Sae-byeok.[3]
On the other hand, Sang-woo plays the Squid Game trying to not become emotionally attached to other players, as he is aware of the high likelihood of them dying, including by facing him during the games. However, he ends up genuinely connecting with Ali Abdul, to the point the he allows his new friend to call him "older brother" (형 Hyung?) instead of "sir" (사장님 Sajangnim?).[4] This ultimately causes him to choose Ali as his partner in the Marbles game, believing that the two of them will be a formidable pair against the other players, only for him to find out they will have to face each other, instead of playing together. In the end, Sang-woo takes advantage of their new developed trust to save himself by manipulating Ali and letting him die to win the game. Despite this, Sang-woo hesitates to leave when hears Ali calling for him and is stunned as he hears Ali being shot and the announcer saying that Ali was eliminated, indicating he doesn't do it without remorse.[9]
Sang-woo in Squid Game
The other person Sang-woo has a connection with is Gi-hun. Among the players, Gi-hun is the closest one to him because they have known each other since childhood, when they became as close as brothers.[10][11] Besides willingly helping him during the first game and the Special Round, he also shows concern for Gi-hun even when he sees no reason to tell the others his guess about the Sugar Honeycombs game,[12] keeping the advantage solely for himself. He is alarmed when Gi-hun chooses the umbrella, the most difficult option, and is relieved when his friend survives the game.[13][3] He also worries about Gi-hun's state of mind throughout the games; he looks at him in concern while Gi-hun is visibly feeling remorseful after killing their adversary team in the Tug of War, he later questions if he is okay when Gi-hun seems to have a nightmare during the night.[4] He also tries to comfort Gi-hun about Oh Il-nam's death, reminding him that Il-nam is someone he only met recently during the games,[14] which might be something Sang-woo is also telling himself about Ali.
As the games progresses and the number eliminated players increases, Sang-woo also becomes increasingly more ruthless to win, disregarding others' lives. His actions take his kind-hearted friend Gi-hun by surprise. Not being able to understand each other causes animosity between the two of them, resulting in Sang-woo cutting ties with Gi-hun and Sae-byeok and isolating himself before the final game.[15] Later, Sang-woo's murder of Sae-byeok makes Gi-hun furious, leading the two friends to a mortal confrontation during the Squid Game. Despite caring about Gi-hun, in the final game, Sang-woo is willing even to kill his friend to win, having made it clear that he would do anything to survive and get the prize money. However, upon being beaten, Sang-woo recognizes his defeat. He is touched when Gi-hun attempts to stop the games to save him. Sang-woo ultimately apologizes to Gi-hun before rejecting his offer, instead choosing to kill himself out of remorse for his actions and to allow his friend to win and take the prize money.[16] Being aware of Gi-hun's kindness, he trusts that his friend will help his mother in his place.
History
- For a comprehensive history, see Cho Sang-woo/History
Relationships
Seong Gi-hun
Sang-woo is Gi-hun's childhood best friend. They often played games together. Gi-hun mentioned giving Sang-woo rides to school. Sang-woo often calls Gi-hun "big brother".
Ali Abdul
Sang-woo takes on a mentor-like role, guiding Ali through the challenges of the deadly games. The marble game is the turning point of their friendship, where Sang-woo stole Ali's marbles and replaced them with nearby rocks.
Murders Committed
| Episode | Character | Image/GIF | Method |
| A Fair World | Team 5 (Tug of War) |   |
Pulled off the Tug of War Platform by Gi-Hun’s team to their deaths, losing the game. |
| VIPS | Do Jung-soo | 
|
Pushed off the walkable glass panels. |
| Frontman | Kang Sae-byeok | 
|
Throat stab. |
Trivia
- Sang-woo, Seong Gi-hun and Hwang In-ho are the only characters that appeared in all nine episodes of Season One.
- Sang-woo had the most potential to win 33rd Squid Game.
- Hwang Dong-hyuk stated that he perceives Sang-woo and Gi-hun as fraternal twins, and part of the casting of the two characters was to make them look like they are because he wanted them to emulate this relationship. Dong-hyuk explains that fraternal twins are very close in childhood, but look different despite coming from the same mother, and they usually go on different paths in life.[11][10]
- In an interview, Lee Jung-jae stated that they are not biologically related, but still close as if they were.[17]
Behind the scenes
Cho Sang-woo was portrayed by actor Park Hae-soo. The younger version of Sang-woo was portrayed by actor Park Si-won.
Appearances
- Season One
- Season Two
- "Bread and Lottery" (vision)
- "Halloween Party" (name shown)
Quotes
Sang-woo: She was going to die anyway. I just ended her pain quickly.
Gi-hun: Don't give me that bullshit. She was alive, and could've been saved.
Sang-woo: That's why I killed her. Because I know how you are. Because you would've given everything up just to save her.
Gi-hun: Was that it? Were you afraid I'd give up?
Sang-woo: That's right! Because if you two gave up, it would've been all over! I'd have to leave here without a penny!
Gi-hun: If it hadn't been for her, I would've killed you with this knife. You... will never leave here with that money.Sang-woo and Gi-hun's final conversation before their fight in "One Lucky Day"
Gi-hun: Let's go... Let's go home.
Sang-woo: Gi-hun... I'm sorry...
Gi-hun: Sang-woo! Sang-woo...
Sang-woo: Gi-hun...
Gi-hun: No, Sang-woo. Don't talk. Sang-woo...
Sang-woo: My mom... my mom...
Gi-hun: No. Don't. Sang-woo, no... Sang-woo...Sang-woo's final moments and dying words to Gi-hun in "One Lucky Day"
Gallery
References
- ↑ In Korea, 1 year is added to the person's age after birth, so if he is 46 in 2020, he was born in 1975.
- ↑ The overall competition is confirmed to be called Squid Game, and the 2020 game is confirmed the 33rd annual game, by the archived files Hwang Jun-ho reads in the episode "A Fair World".
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Stick to the Team"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "A Fair World"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Hell"
- ↑ The Squid Game Cast React To Their Own Show | Netflix
- ↑ Squid Game: Hwang Dong-hyuk and Bong Joon-ho in Conversation | Netflix
- ↑ "Red Light, Green Light"
- ↑ "Gganbu"
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Netflix’s ‘Squid Game’ Cast and Director Talk About Bringing the Korean Survival Show to Life
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lee Jung Jae And Park Hae Soo Are Two Sides Of The Same Coin In “Squid Game”
- ↑ Squid Game Cast Review the Biggest Betrayals in Season One | Vanity Fair
- ↑ "The Man with the Umbrella"
- ↑ "VIPS"
- ↑ "Front Man"
- ↑ "One Lucky Day"
- ↑ Squid Game: Keyword Interview with Lee Jung-jae