Squid Game has returned. When the show was first shown in 2021, it was a surprise global hit, becoming Netflix’s most-watched series and winner of several awards, including two Primetime Emmys.
Although there are a couple of familiar faces that have returned from the first season, season two presents a bunch of new characters to the game. With the immense popularity of the show, it’s not surprising some famous names have joined the cast for the second season.
Here’s a look at some of the new characters, who play them and where you might have seen them before.
Im Si-wan as Myung-gi (Player 333)
In Squid Game: Myung-gi is a former YouTuber who became famous for giving out cryptocurrency advice to his fans. However, after telling them to invest in what turns out to be a crypto scam, he shuts down his account and goes on the run as his followers lose all their money listening to him. He runs into his ex-girlfriend Junhee while in the games.
Where you’ll recognise him from: Im starred in the beloved 2014 TV series Misaeng: Incomplete Life as Jang Geu-rae, an employee who once had dreams to be a professional baduk player but after failing to achieve this goal, he gets hired as an intern at a large trading company.
Kang Ha-neul as Dae-ho (Player 388)
In Squid Game: Dae-ho is a former marine who instantly bonds with protagonist Gi-hun (Player 456) and his best friend Jung-bae (Player 390) while in the games. His reason for participating isn't disclosed.
Where you’ll recognise him from: Kang starred in 2019’s When the Camellia Blooms, the highest-rated mini-series drama in South Korean TV that year. He played Yong-sik, a police officer who moves back to his hometown and falls in love with a single mother despite his mother’s disapproval. He is also focused on catching a serial killer on the loose when his love interest becomes the next target.
Park Gyu-young as No-eul (Guard 11)
In Squid Game: No-eul is a North Korean woman who escapes to the South but leaves behind her young daughter. She works at an amusement park to earn money and lives in her car while hoping to save enough to continue the search to be reunited with her child. However, it is later revealed she takes part in the Squid Games as one of the guards.
Where you’ll recognise her: Park has appeared in several top K-dramas and films, including 2020’s popular hit It’s Okay To Not Be Okay. In it, she plays Ju-ri, a shy nurse at a psychiatric hospital who has an unrequited crush on her co-worker.
Jo Yuri as Junhee (Player 222)
In Squid Game: Junhee is Myung-gi's ex-girlfriend who is also pregnant with their child. Like some of the other players, she trusted him in investing in crypto and also lost her money. She hopes to be able to win money to provide a life for herself and their child.
Where you’ll recognise her: Although newer to acting, Jo was a member of the former girl group IZ*ONE. The group was comprises Japanese and South Korean members but was only active from 2018 to 2021. She then embarked on a solo career before making her acting debut in 2022's teen drama Mimicus.
Choi Seung-hyun aka Top as Thanos (Player 120)
In Squid Game: Thanos is an eccentric famous rapper who loses all his money thanks to listening to Myung-gi.
Where you’ll recognise him: Most K-pop fans will be able to instantly recognise Top from his time in the massively successful boy band BigBang, who were once called the “Kings of K-pop”. Although he left the group in May 2023, he continues performing successfully as a solo artist.
Lee Jin-uk as Gyung-seok (Player 246)
In Squid Game: Gyung-seok is a man who works as a caricaturist at an amusement park and enters the games to play for treatment for his young daughter's cancer.
Where you’ll recognise him from: Fans of the apocalyptic horror TV show Sweet Home will know Lee. In the series, he plays Sang-wook, a mysterious contract killer.
Park Sung-hoon as Hyun-ju (Player 120)
In Squid Game: Park plays Hyun-ju, a transgender woman who enters in hopes of earning money to complete her transition. She’s a former soldier in the South Korean military.
Where you’ll recognise him from: The actor has starred in several popular K-dramas, including 2024’s Queen of Tears and 2022’s The Glory, in which he played the villainous Jae-joon, the heir of a country club who was part of a group of teenagers that bullied the show’s protagonist.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl
Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: Dh99,000
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000
On sale: now
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
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The details
Colette
Director: Wash Westmoreland
Starring: Keira Knightley, Dominic West
Our take: 3/5
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
