Player 240 in Squid Game is Ji-yeong, and she’s played by South Korean actress Lee Yoo-mi (also romanized as Lee You-mi). Her tender, heartbreaking performance in Episode 6, the marbles round, became one of the show’s defining moments and earned her the 2022 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.
About Lee Yoo-mi
Lee Yoo-mi broke out internationally with Squid Game, but she had been steadily working in Korean film and television for several years prior. After the show’s global success, she swiftly expanded her profile with prominent roles across Netflix and Korean broadcast dramas, showing range from sympathetic to sharply antagonistic characters.
Audiences may also recognize her from Netflix’s All of Us Are Dead (2022), where she played the divisive student Lee Na-yeon, and from leading the 2023 K-drama Strong Girl Nam-soon as Gang Nam-soon, the superpowered heroine in the spin-off series set in the same universe as Strong Woman Do Bong-soon. She also co-starred in the 2022 series Mental Coach Jegal as Cha Ga-eul, a struggling short-track speedskating champion, adding a grounded sports-drama turn to her resume.
On the film side, Lee Yoo-mi appeared in projects including Young Adult Matters and Hostage: Missing Celebrity, continuing to balance indie sensibilities with mainstream appeal. Her Squid Game Emmy win cemented her as one of the most in-demand young actors from the show’s ensemble.
Who Is Ji-yeong (Player 240) In the Story?
Ji-yeong enters the competition after being released from prison, where she served time for killing her abusive father. Quiet but observant, she initially keeps to herself, then bonds with Kang Sae-byeok (Player 067, played by Jung Ho-yeon) during lights-out chaos and the tug-of-war aftermath. Their chemistry isn’t flashy; it’s built on small kindnesses, wry humor, and a mutual understanding that the outside world hasn’t offered them much.
Her perspective is pragmatic, even fatalistic at times, but there’s warmth under the surface. By the time they reach the marbles game in Episode 6—one of Squid Game’s most devastating hours—Ji-yeong has become Sae-byeok’s confidante, allowing the series to explore hope, guilt, and sacrifice through their quiet conversations.
The Marbles Round and Her Choice
Episode 6 pairs players into teams, only to reveal they must play against each other for survival. Ji-yeong and Sae-byeok decide to spend much of their time just talking, postponing the inevitable. Ji-yeong learns about Sae-byeok’s plan to reunite her family and hears a rare admission of fear and longing from the steely North Korean defector.
When the rules clarify that only one can advance, Ji-yeong engineers her own loss—effectively choosing to die so that Sae-byeok, who she believes has more to live for, can move forward. The moment hinges on Lee Yoo-mi’s understated choices: a soft smile, a near-whispered goodbye, a resolve that never tips into melodrama. It’s a sacrifice that reframes the show’s brutality through personal grace.
Why Player 240 Resonated With Viewers
- Intimate storytelling: The marbles episode slows the game’s momentum to focus on character. Ji-yeong’s scenes feel like a chamber piece inside a survival thriller.
- Nuanced performance: Lee Yoo-mi’s restraint makes Ji-yeong’s backstory and decision land with emotional clarity, earning widespread praise from critics and fans.
- Themes of agency and empathy: In a series about systemic dehumanization, Ji-yeong asserts control in the only way left to her—through a choice rooted in empathy.
- Contrast with 067: Ji-yeong’s casual warmth offsets Sae-byeok’s guarded demeanor, deepening both characters without undercutting their toughness.
Where Else You’ve Seen Lee Yoo-mi
- All of Us Are Dead (2022, Netflix): As Lee Na-yeon, she gave a polarizing, memorable turn that fueled online debates around the character’s choices during the outbreak.
- Mental Coach Jegal (2022): Played Cha Ga-eul, a champion skater navigating trauma and a high-pressure system, opposite Jung Woo.
- Strong Girl Nam-soon (2023): Took the lead as Gang Nam-soon, blending comedic timing with action in the high-energy sequel to Strong Woman Do Bong-soon.
- Young Adult Matters; Hostage: Missing Celebrity: Feature film credits that helped sharpen her dramatic instincts before her international breakout.
Clearing Up Common Confusion About 240 vs. 067
Because Ji-yeong (240) and Sae-byeok (067) share some of the series’ most emotional scenes, fans often search for them together. To keep it straight: Lee Yoo-mi plays Ji-yeong (240), while Jung Ho-yeon plays Kang Sae-byeok (067). Both actors saw their careers skyrocket globally after the show’s launch.
Is There a Player 240 in Squid Game: The Challenge?
Netflix’s reality competition spin-off, Squid Game: The Challenge, assigns numbers to real contestants as a nod to the drama. That said, the people you see there are not the scripted characters from the original series. Ji-yeong and Player 240 as portrayed by Lee Yoo-mi only exist in the 2021 K-drama, not in the reality show.
The Legacy of Ji-yeong’s Episode
Episode 6, titled Gganbu, is often singled out as Squid Game’s most affecting chapter. Ji-yeong’s sacrifice sits alongside other moral dilemmas in the episode to showcase how the game preys on bonds and trust. The quiet staging and heavy emotional fallout turned a high-concept thriller into a character study for an hour, and it’s here that Lee Yoo-mi sealed her Emmy-winning reputation.
Will Lee Yoo-mi Return in Squid Game Season 2?
Netflix has revealed select returning players for Season 2, primarily those whose characters survived the first game. Ji-yeong dies in Episode 6, so Lee Yoo-mi has not been announced among the confirmed Season 2 cast. Unless Season 2 employs flashbacks or new narrative devices, a return would be unlikely—but as with any hit series, surprises are always possible. As of now, no official confirmation includes her.
Where to Watch or Revisit the Performance
Squid Game streams on Netflix globally. If you’re looking to rewatch Ji-yeong’s arc, focus on Episodes 4 through 6, culminating in the marbles game. For more of Lee Yoo-mi, All of Us Are Dead and Strong Girl Nam-soon are also available on Netflix in many regions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who plays Player 240 (Ji-yeong) in Squid Game?
Lee Yoo-mi portrays Ji-yeong, better known by her number, Player 240.
Did Lee Yoo-mi win an Emmy for Squid Game?
Yes. She won the 2022 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her performance as Ji-yeong.
What’s the difference between Player 240 and Player 067?
Player 240 is Ji-yeong (Lee Yoo-mi). Player 067 is Kang Sae-byeok (Jung Ho-yeon). The two characters form a close bond, especially in Episode 6.
What other shows has Lee Yoo-mi been in?
Notable projects include All of Us Are Dead (Netflix), Mental Coach Jegal, and Strong Girl Nam-soon, where she plays the title role. She has also appeared in the films Young Adult Matters and Hostage: Missing Celebrity.
Is Player 240 in Squid Game: The Challenge?
No. The Challenge uses numbered contestants, but Ji-yeong is a scripted character from the original drama and is not part of the reality competition.