Why ‘Squid Game’ pink guard No-eul never lost her humanity
No-eul (played by Park Gyu-young), a North Korean defector and pink guard in “Squid Game” / Courtesy of Netflix
"Squid Game" Season 2 and 3 mark the first time the Netflix hit series explores the lives of the masked enforcers known as the pink guards. One such character is Kang No-eul, played by Park Gyu-young, a former North Korean soldier who quietly endures the brutal reality of the game while clinging to the memory of her daughter left behind across the border.
If Season 1’s Kang Sae-byeok (played by Jung Ho-yeon) embodied hope, No-eul represents what it looks like to lose it. In a recent interview in Seoul, Park spoke about building the emotionally restrained character and what drove No-eul’s final choices.
“No-eul lives in complete despair,” Park said. “I kept her voice low and flat, almost robotic. She doesn’t reveal her emotions easily.”
Still, No-eul stands out as the only pink guard who never loses her humanity. She tries to stop organ trafficking within the organization and risks everything to save contestant Park Kyung-seok (played by Lee Jin-wook), who is caring for a child with leukemia.
“I think No-eul saw herself in him — that by saving someone else’s daughter, she might still save her own,” Park said.
Eventually, No-eul learns that her own daughter may have died, and she begins to break. She attempts to take her own life, but witnessing Seong Gi-hun’s (Lee Jung-jae) self-sacrifice to save a child during the final game restores her faith in humanity.
“That moment left the biggest impact on me,” Park said. “I think No-eul saw a glimmer of hope in Gi-hun.”
Park Gyu-young as No-eul in “Squid Game” / Courtesy of Netflix
‘No excuse — I’m truly sorry’
Park also addressed the spoiler controversy that erupted in January after she shared a behind-the-scenes photo from the "Squid Game" set on social media.
Fans believed the post inadvertently revealed that actor Lee Jin-wook would be returning in Season 3 as a pink guard, sparking criticism.
“I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on how careless and immature that was,” Park said. “I offer my sincerest apology without any excuses.”
Recently, Park made headlines again for her fluent English during a BBC talk show appearance to promote "Squid Game" Season 3.
“I started learning English as a child,” she said. “I’m comfortable with basic communication, but I studied hard to be able to make eye contact and connect meaningfully with foreign journalists.”
Park made her debut in 2016 in singer Jo Kwon’s music video “Crosswalk” and gained recognition through her role in Netflix’s "Sweet Home" (2020) as Yoon Ji-soo. She also starred as Dr. Lee Seung-joo in the Disney+ mystery drama "Nine Puzzles," released in May.
Actor Park Gyu-young / Courtesy of Netflix
Season 3 of "Squid Game" debuted at No. 1 in all 93 countries tracked by Netflix’s global Top 10 list, becoming the first series in Netflix history to gain the top spot in every region in its opening week.
“I told reporters overseas that Korea still has so many more good stories to share,” Park said. “As a Korean and as an actor, I’m incredibly proud and thankful for the love this series continues to receive.”
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.