Squid Game ended with an exciting twist. Player 001 -- the old Oh Il-nam (Oh Young Soo) -- turned out to be the mastermind of the deadly children's game. However, there are speculations that Oh Il-nam is actually the long-lost father of Seong Gi-Hun (Lee Jung Jae).
While there are a lot of hints that may support the theory about their relationship, some have a hard time believing it. Why didn't Gi-hun recognize his dad?
A YouTube named Minhoaurs shared this theory behind that.
Squid Game Mastermind May Have Abandoned His Family
In one scene, Gi-hun and the old man met at a convenience store. Gi-hun asked the Oh Il-nam if he was living in the neighborhood.
"I have a friend who lives nearby. I am staying there for a while...I guess we're meant to meet," he replied.
According to the YouTuber, per AllKPop, the phrase "I am staying there for a while" has a double meaning. It could also mean "I owe a lot to."
The YouTuber speculated that Oh Il-nam said those words because he owes a lot to Gi-hun and his mother for abandoning them.
Gi-hun and his mother were very poor that she declined to be admitted to a hospital despite her illness. Meanwhile, Il-nam turned to be a wealthy man.
It remains unknown why he abandoned his rumored family. But, given his wealth, he could have made it up with his wife and son before he died, especially that Gi-hun's mom was sick.
READ: Squid Game Deaths Explained, Hints You Might Have Missed On Episode 2
Why Didn't Gi-Hun Recognize His Father In Squid Game?
If Gi-hun and Il-nam are father and son, why didn't he recognize his dad? The YouTuber noted that there was no mention of Gi-hun's dad. There were also no family photos at home.
Furthermore, Gi-hun is already 47, and if his dad abandoned him when he was still a child, he would likely not recognize him.
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Some Hints About Gi-hun And Il-nam's Father And Son Relationship
In the previous season, Gi-hun immediately felt something toward the Il-nam. He always wanted to help him. He truly cared for him.
In one game, when they were asked to find a partner, he chose to be partners with Il-nam because he was afraid he would be harmed if no one picked him up. Unfortunately, in the said game, they played against each other, and he won. The old man actually let him won. But before that, he asked about the date if it was 24 because his son's birthday was coming up. When Gi-hun entered his birthday as his mom's ATM pin, he entered "08-26," suggesting that his birthday was also coming up.
During the game, Il-nam mentioned living in a familiar neighborhood when they were walking through the alley. Gi-hun said he also lived in a similar place.
Gi-hun also mentioned that he suffers from lactose intolerance. The old man commented saying, "I'm willing to bet you got spanked a lot." Gi-hun confirmed and asked, "how did you know?"
"My son did too. He was just like you, friend," Il-nam told Gi-hun.
Gi-hun and Il-name's relationship might be confirmed in the second season. However, Netflix hasn't renewed Squid Game yet -- many are looking forward to its return. We will keep you posted once it gets the green light.
Also Read: 7 Squid Game-Like Survival Movies And TV Series To Watch
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