Is Il-nam the frontman's father? Theory, explained

Summary

• Il-nam could be the frontman's father due to scenes with milk and their acting involvement. (Characters: In-ho and Il-nam)

• Fans believe Il-nam may also be Gi-hun's father based on similar scenes and regional connections. (Characters: Gi-hun and Il-nam)

• Theories surrounding Il-nam's connections to characters add depth to Squid Game and keep fans engaged. (Characters: Various)

Over the years, there have been many theories that fans have thrown around in relation to Octopus game and its characters. In the second season, the frontman himself joins the games and becomes a more prominent character, making fans look deeper into his past and his family. While the only confirmed blood relative is his brother, Jun-ho, many believe he may be related to someone else on the show as well — namely a key character from the first season.

This theory revolves around Il-nam being secretly the frontman's father. There are a few different signs that have pointed towards this that fans have discovered, making it a plausible theory for the game's leaders. Here's what has been pulled together for Octopus game theory.

This article contains spoilers for Season 2 of Squid Game.

Is Il-nam the front man's father in squid game?

Breaking down the theory

The reasons why many fans theorize that Il-nam could actually be In-ho's (front man) father comes from a few different scenes in Season 1 and Season 2. After Season 2 was released in December 2024, fans began to break this theory together based on on what they knew about the two characters.

In season 1, there is a scene between Gi-hun and Il-nam, who grow close through the games, where they choose between regular milk and chocolate milk. Gi-hun chooses to take the chocolate milk, and Il-nam tells him:

As a kid, I'm willing to bet you got spanked a lot… My son did too. He was just like you, friend.

In a scene in Season 2, In-ho, also known as Front Man, has some regular milk and decides to give it to Jun-hee instead. He tells her that he doesn't drink regular milk, leading many to make a connection between this scene and the one between Gi-hun and Il-nam. While the original theory for this connection had incorrect translations of the captions, the correct translations could still hint at the possibility of Il-nam being related to the frontman.

Is this theory plausible?

Can this really be implemented in the story?

• In-ho and Il-nam's son are both implied to dislike milk.

• The two are both heavily involved in the games.

While the original theory led fans to believe that Il-nam's son and the frontman were both lactose intolerant, even the correct translation may still suggest a connection. The Front Man, or In-ho, essentially implies that he just doesn't prefer milk, which is what Il-nam tells Gi-hun. Il-nam suggests that his son usually chose chocolate milk over regular milk, which often got him into trouble. While the real explanation makes this theory less possible, it's still something that could be implemented into the story and appear in Season 3.

This theory may also be more likely due to the fact that Il-nam was the original creator of the games, and after In-ho won in 2015, he became the Front Man, which already connects the two. It is possible that, since In-ho had a hard life before joining the games, struggling to make ends meet and save his wife, he was unaware that Il-nam was actually his father. Although Il-nam turned out not to be his father, it is likely that In-ho felt a special bond with him, as he gave In-ho the chance to save his wife by entering the games and winning the prize. Then, soon after winning, he decided to continue playing the legacy of the games as a frontman, especially since his wife did not survive.

Other theories revolving around Il-nam

Could he be another player's father?

• Possible connection between Gi-hun and Il-nam

• Suggests that Gi-hun may be Il-nam's son due to his aversion to milk

There have been other theories involving Il-nam as well, including the possibility that he could be Gi-hun's father instead. Since Gi-hun's father is never mentioned in the show, just like Front Man, many have pieced together a few moments that might hint at the possibility.

In particular, some fans have analyzed the same scene from Season 1 involving the milk. Since Il-nam mentions that Gi-hun is just like his own son, who was also spanked for not liking regular milk, many have theorized that this may imply that Il-nam is actually Gi-hun's father rather than the frontman's. Later in the first season, they both realize that they are from the same region and grew up playing the same children's game as well.

While this theory is also plausible, it is likely not as strong as the other, due to the fact that Gi-hun would probably have memories of what his father looked like if he was around to beat him. Both theories have interesting origins and prove that fans are always on the lookout for little easter eggs and implications, even if the chances of the theories turning out to be true are quite slim. Although there is still a possibility that it could become a reality in Season 3 when it is released later in 2025.