How Much Is 45.6 Billion Won? Squid Game Season 2: What Happened?

Squid Game Season 2 premiered globally on Netflix on December 26, 2024, continuing the gripping story of survival and desperation. Set three years after Seong Gi-hun’s victory in the first season’s brutal competition, the new season sees his return to the deadly games. Gi-hun, having abandoned his plans to relocate to the United States, is driven by a renewed sense of purpose: to dismantle the organization behind the games. The show does not provide information regarding the characters’ ages, partners, children or net worth.

Gi-hun’s Return

Despite Gi-hun’s efforts to dissuade others from participating and risking their lives, the games commence once again. The allure of the immense prize money proves too strong, with greed driving players to compete in the deadly challenges. The rules remain consistent with the first season: each player’s death adds 100 million won to the total prize pool. The ultimate winner stands to claim 45.6 billion won, an amount equivalent to approximately $30,946,950 USD. This significant amount is based on an exchange rate where one billion won is roughly equivalent to $678,665 USD.

First Round: Light

The first game, Red Light, Green Light, is a seemingly innocent children’s game with deadly consequences. Players must move forward when “Green Light” is called and freeze instantly when “Red Light” is announced. A menacing robotic doll monitors the players’ movements, and any detected motion during the “Red Light” phase results in immediate elimination. The round begins with 456 players. After the initial carnage, 91 players are eliminated. This results in a prize money increase of 9.1 billion won, or approximately $6,174,660 USD. This amount would be divided among the remaining 365 players should they choose to end the games at that point.

Second Round: Pentathlon

The second game, the Six Legged Pentathlon, introduces a team-based element. Players are divided into teams of five, with their legs tied together. Each team participates in five mini-games, with players rotating to represent their team in each challenge. These mini-games include traditional Korean games like Ddakji, Flying Stone, Gong-gi, Spinning Top, and Jegi. This round proves particularly brutal, resulting in the elimination of 110 players. The total prize money then escalates to 20.1 billion won, or roughly $13,637,000 USD.

Third Round: Mingle

The third game, called Mingle, involves a rotating central platform and a set of small rooms. Players stand on the rotating platform, and when it stops, a number is announced. The players must then quickly enter the rooms, forming groups matching the announced number. Players left outside the rooms or in rooms with an incorrect number of people are immediately eliminated. With each spin of the platform, more players meet their demise. This round pushes the prize money to 35.6 billion won, approximately $24,158,800 USD.

Games’ Abrupt End

Squid Game Season 2 takes an unexpected turn as the games do not proceed beyond the third round. Gi-hun, along with a small group of allies, embarks on a mission to locate the headquarters of the game organization and put an end to the deadly competition once and for all. This shift in narrative focus sets the stage for a potential third season, focusing on the dismantling of the organization rather than the continuation of the games themselves. The season concludes with a sense of unfinished business, leaving viewers eager for more.

Season’s Impact

Season 2 of Squid Game builds upon the themes of social inequality, desperation, and the corrupting influence of money established in the first season. By introducing new games and further developing Gi-hun’s character arc, the series continues to explore the dark side of human nature when faced with extreme circumstances. The unexpected ending leaves the door open for future installments, promising further exploration of the complex world of Squid Game.