Do you wish to participate in the game? If you wish to participate, please state your name and birthdate.
The Salesman to the players of the Squid Games, and later to Seong Gi-hun in Red Light, Green Light and One Lucky Day
The Salesman is a businessman who has worked as a recruiter for the Squid Games since the 33rd Squid Game in 2020. His role is to recruit players by playing Ddakji with them, and later giving them a card if they win. He is a former staff member from the Squid Games who earned the trust of the game's creator, Oh Il-nam, over time. After raising his position, the salesman was given the opportunity to work outside the game in the "real world", and began to recruit players in 2020.
The salesman is the first point of contact between the players and the organizers of the games. With his briefcase of cash and Ddakji envelopes, he lures players in by offering them an easy way to make money. After several rounds of Ddakji, he gives players a card with a logo and a phone number for the players to call for the chance to play more games and make money. If players wish to participate and call the number, the salesman instructs them to state their name and birthdate before allowing them to play.
Personality[]
You know, sir. There are other games like this where you can make even more. Come on, it must sound tempting. Mr. Gi-hun. Earlier, you signed away your physical rights. Your name, Seong Gi-hun. 47 years old. You attended Daehan Technical High School. Worked at Dragon Motors, Assembly Team One. The company laid you off ten years ago. Opened a chicken shop, and then a small snack bar. Both of them failed, you're working as a chauffeur right now. You've been divorced for about three years, and your daughter is ten years old. A hundred and sixty million won owed just to loan sharks, and you owe 250 more to the bank. We don't have many spots left. Just think about it.
The Salesman to Gi-hun
During the first episode "Red Light, Green Light", while he's talking to Seong Gi-hun, the salesman is calm, relaxed and polite. He seems relaxed the majority of the time he is on screen, even after losing the game of Ddakji. The only time he loses his relaxed demeanor is when Gi-hun points his lighter gun at him, believing it to be real. After seeing Gi-hun again during the last episode "One Lucky Day", he seems to be a bit more sneaky, and even gives Gi-hun a sneaky smirk while leaving.
History[]
The salesman was a staff member from the Squid Games who earned the trust of the game's creator, Oh Il-nam, over time. After raising his position, the salesman was given the opportunity to work outside the game in the "real world", and began to recruit players for the 33rd Squid Game in 2020.[1]
The salesman is the first point of contact between the players and the organizers of the games. With his briefcase of cash and Ddakji envelopes, he lures players in by offering them an easy way to make money. After several rounds of Ddakji, he gives players a card with a logo and a phone number for the players to call for the chance to play more games and make money. If players wish to participate and call the number, the salesman instructs them to state their name and birthdate before allowing them to play.
2020[]
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The salesman asking Seong Gi-hun to play Ddakji with him
After 455 players were recruited for the 33rd Squid Game, the salesman approached who would ultimately be the last player, Seong Gi-hun, on the subway. He asked to play Ddakji with him where the winner would receive ₩100,000. Gi-hun reluctantly agreed to play. Gi-hun failed the first round but the salesman succeeded. He asked Gi-hun if he had any money where Gi-hun stated he didn't so he slapped him saying that he would take away ₩100,000 for each slap. Gi-hun decided to keep playing only to lose and get slapped in the face several times until winning. He tried to get revenge on the salesman by trying to slap him but the salesman blocked him and gave him the prize money.
He then offered Gi-hun a chance to participate in the 33rd Squid Game but Gi-hun was doubtful. The salesman then revealed that he knew about Gi-hun's debts to banks and loan sharks and reminded him as a way to persuade him. When Gi-hun asked how he knew this information, the salesman gave him a business card and asked him to call soon as there weren't many spots left, and later left the subway station. Gi-hun eventually decided to accept the saleman's chance to participate in the games and called the number. The salesman picked up the phone and told Gi-hun "Hello. Who's calling? Do you wish to participate in the game? If you wish to play, please state your name and birthdate." Gi-hun told the salesman his name and birthdate, and by doing so, officially began his participation in the games, being taken to the island shortly thereafter.
Footage of the salesman slapping the other future players of the 33rd Squid Game, including Cho Sang-woo, Kim Mi-ok and Park Ju-un, was shown to the players by the guards.
2021[]
The salesman waving goodbye to Gi-hun
In December 2021, the salesman began to recruit players for the 34th Squid Game. Following Il-nam's death later that month, Gi-hun (who had won the 33rd Squid Game) spotted the salesman playing Ddakji with another person at a subway station while he is talking to Seong Ga-yeong on the phone. The salesman sees Gi-hun staring at him and gives him a sneaky smirk before leaving, giving the other person a business card. Gi-hun then rushed towards him, but before he made it, the salesman had boarded a train and waved goodbye to Gi-hun as the train began to leave the station. Gi-hun then took the card from the person, and used the number to inform the game's operators that he can't forgive them; in doing so, he heard the salesman's question again "Do you wish to participate in the game? If you wish to play, please state your name and birthdate."
Trivia[]
- Fans speculated the red and blue envelopes represent the staff and players of the Squid Games. It was later revealed that the colors of the envelopes are just alluding to the Japanese legend Aka Manto, where a masked spirit asked people if they want red paper or blue paper in the bathroom. Players seen on the monitor in Red Light, Green Light are seen having chosen the red Ddakji, and director Hwang Dong-hyuk has also confirmed the rumor to be false in an interview.
- Fans also theorised that the reason the salesman smiled at Seong Gi-hun was because it was likely the first time he saw a contestant after the Squid Games or that he was happy to see Gi-hun again.
Behind the scenes[]
The Salesman was portrayed by Gong Yoo who is famously known for playing Seok Woo from Train to Busan.
In June 2022, series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk teased that the salesman "might be back" for Season 2. His return was later confirmed.
Appearances[]
Gallery[]
