Kang Sae-byeok

“	I don't trust people.	„
	― Kang Sae-byeok to Seong Gi-hun

Kang Sae-byeok (강새벽, Gang Sae-byeok), also known as Player 067, was a contestant in the 33rd Squid Game in 2020 and one of the competition’s finalists.

A North Korean defector, Sae-byeok fled the country with her parents and younger brother, leading to her father’s death and her mother’s capture. She initially worked under gangster Jang Deok-su but later went independent, creating hostility between them. She entered the Squid Game in hopes of winning the prize money to pay a broker to bring her mother to South Korea and to take her brother out of the shelter. After surviving the first round, she was among the few who voted to continue the competition despite the risks and later voluntarily returned when the games resumed. Fearing Deok-su’s aggression, she allied herself with Seong Gi-hun, Cho Sang-woo, Ali Abdul, and Oh Il-nam for protection.

Sae-byeok demonstrated her resourcefulness throughout the games, notably sneaking into a bathroom air duct to spy on the organizers and gain insight into upcoming rounds. She eventually bonded with Ji-yeong, who sacrificed herself during the Marbles game to ensure Sae-byeok's survival. Their brief time together formed a deep connection. Sae-byeok also grew close to Gi-hun, and they supported each other as the games progressed. She ultimately became one of the final three contestants alongside Gi-hun and Sang-woo, though she was critically injured when a large glass shard from the fifth game’s explosion stabbed her in the abdomen.

Her injuries left her in critical condition, and while Gi-hun attempted to seek medical help, Sang-woo took advantage of the situation and fatally stabbed her in the neck. Sae-byeok finished in third place, making her the highest-ranking female contestant in the 33rd Squid Game.

Names	Kang Sae-byeok (강새벽, Gang Sae-byeok) Player 067 Pickpocket (소매치기 Somaechigi) (Seong Gi-hun) (누나 Noona) (Kang Cheol) Commie Bitch (Jang Deok-su) Spy from the North (Ji-yeong)
Gender	Female ♀
Race	Human
Occupation	Pickpocket
Origin	Squid Game Season 1 Episode 1: Red Light, Green Light (무궁화 꽃이 피던 날 Mugunghwa Kkoch-i Pideon Nal)
Alignment	Good
Age	20s
Created By	Hwang Dong-hyuk
Height	176cm (5ft 9in)
Weight	45 kg (99.2 lbs)
Personality Type	ISTP, 6w5 (Enneagram)

Appearance

Kang Sae-byeok, portrayed by HoYeon Jung, has a striking and memorable appearance in Squid Game. She is tall, standing at 176 cm (5'9.3"), making her one of the tallest female characters in the series. Her features are sharp, with long dark hair that she often keeps in a simple, loose style. She has a slender build, contributing to her agile and quick movements during the games. Her intense, determined expression often conveys the hardships she’s endured and her survival instinct.

She wears the standard green tracksuit, which includes a white number (067) on her chest and back, similar to the other contestants. Her tracksuit fits comfortably and mirrors her no-nonsense personality. Sae-byeok also has a noticeable scar on the side of her neck, which becomes a key detail in Gi-hun’s recognition of her as the pickpocket who stole his bet money.

Personality

Kang Sae-byeok is stoic and reserved, rarely expressing her emotions. She is highly determined and maintains a quiet, independent nature throughout the Squid Game, keeping to herself in the early rounds. Her level-headedness allows her to remain calm even in life-threatening situations. However, beneath her tough exterior, she cares deeply for those close to her. She is visibly moved when Ji-yeong sacrifices herself, shedding tears for her fallen friend. Over time, she grows to trust Gi-hun, ultimately placing her faith in him to take care of her younger brother before her death.

Biography

Background

Born in North Hamgyong Province, North Korea, Kang Sae-byeok was the second of three children. During her childhood, her older brother and grandparents succumbed to a plague. She and her family attempted to defect from North Korea, but only she and her younger brother, Kang Cheol, successfully escaped. Her father was killed during the attempt, while her mother was captured and forcibly returned. With no other options, Kang Cheol was placed in a shelter while Sae-byeok resorted to pickpocketing to survive, hoping to save enough money to reunite her family and provide her brother with a better life. She initially worked under gangster Jang Deok-su but later decided to operate independently, which led to a conflict between them.

Squid Game

In 2020, Sae-byeok encountered The Recruiter, who challenged her to a game of Ddakji. After winning, he handed her an invitation to the 33rd Squid Game. Before entering, she unknowingly crossed paths with Seong Gi-hun, who was fleeing from loan sharks. When he stopped to help her, she secretly stole his money.

Sae-byeok accepted the invitation and was transported to the games arena, waking up in a dormitory alongside 455 other contestants. Gi-hun, now Player 456, recognized her as the pickpocket who had robbed him. She was soon confronted by Jang Deok-su, a ruthless gangster (Player 101), but Gi-hun intervened to stop the altercation.

The guards then entered and explained the rules: the players would compete in six games over six days, and the final winner would receive a massive cash prize. Many players were skeptical until the guards reminded them of their overwhelming debts and the life-changing opportunity the games presented. They were led through a series of staircases to the first game: Red Light, Green Light. The arena resembled an open field with trees, a giant animatronic doll, and a finish line. The rules were simple—players could move forward while the doll sang "무궁화 꽃이 피었습니다" ("The hibiscus flower is blooming"), but had to stop the moment the song ended. Moving at the wrong time or failing to cross the finish line within five minutes would result in elimination.

As the game began, two players, 324 and 250, sprinted forward. However, when 324 moved after the doll stopped singing, he was immediately shot. Player 250, horrified, tried to flee and was also killed. As the panic spread, Player 306 screamed upon seeing the blood splatter and was eliminated as well. Chaos erupted as many players attempted to run away, only to be gunned down. Those who stayed still survived, and the voice over the speaker reminded them of the rules.

After the initial shock, the game resumed, but most players were too terrified to move. The exception was Oh Il-nam (Player 001), who gleefully advanced despite the carnage. Gradually, others followed his lead, with the reckless ones getting eliminated. Sae-byeok took advantage of the moment, sneaking up behind Deok-su and threatening to push him forward as revenge. He pleaded for his life while she toyed with him before ultimately pulling him down while the doll was looking away, allowing her to move ahead.

As the timer ticked down, several players managed to cross the finish line, including Sae-byeok, Deok-su, Sang-woo, Il-nam, Gi-hun, and Ali Abdul.

After the first game, the surviving contestants are escorted back to the dormitory, where the guards announce that 255 players have been eliminated. Panic sets in as several players plead to be released, promising to repay their debts if given another chance. However, a guard clarifies that the purpose of the games is not punishment but an opportunity for redemption.

With the players reminded that refusing to participate will result in death, Sang-woo invokes the third clause of the consent form, which states that the games can be terminated if the majority votes to leave. Before the vote begins, a massive transparent piggy bank descends from the ceiling, filling with stacks of cash amounting to ₩25 billion. The guards reveal that each eliminated player adds ₩100 million to the prize pool, bringing the total to ₩45.6 billion. The players are then presented with a choice: press the circle button to continue or the X button to leave, knowing that leaving means forfeiting any winnings.

Sae-byeok, along with Sang-woo and several others, votes to continue, while many players desperately choose to leave. The vote remains deadlocked at 100-100, with tensions escalating as those wanting to quit clash with those determined to stay. A fight nearly erupts before the guards intervene. Ultimately, Player 001, the elderly man with a brain tumor, casts the deciding vote and chooses to end the game.

The contestants are dropped off back on the mainland with the condition that if a majority wishes to return, the games will resume. Sae-byeok is released alongside Gi-hun, whom she had previously pickpocketed. She visits her younger brother, Cheol, at a children's home, where he complains about being bullied and accuses her of abandoning him. Sae-byeok reassures him, vowing to take him out of the orphanage and bring their mother to South Korea. However, when she tracks down the broker she hired to smuggle her mother, she discovers he has vanished with her money.

With no better options, Sae-byeok and many other contestants ultimately decide to re-enter the Squid Game. They gather at midnight, waiting in the streets to be picked up. Once transported back to the facility, Sae-byeok, pretending to be unconscious, secretly steals a knife from one of the workers.

Later that night, Sae-byeok and Player 212, Han Mi-nyeo, visit the bathroom. While Mi-nyeo distracts the guard, Sae-byeok sneaks into the ventilation system and spies on the workers, discovering them melting sugar. The next morning, she shares this information with Mi-nyeo and Sang-woo, hinting at what the next game might be.

The players are led into a playground-themed arena, where four doors are marked with different shapes: a circle, a star, a triangle, and an umbrella. Each player must choose a shape before entering. Sae-byeok follows Sang-woo’s lead and selects a triangle. The announcer then reveals the second game: Sugar Honeycombs. The objective is to carve out their chosen shape from a delicate honeycomb without breaking it.

Despite the challenge, Sae-byeok successfully completes the task, advancing alongside Sang-woo, Gi-hun, Ali, and Il-nam.

Thirty minutes before the Special Game, Gi-hun approaches Sae-byeok, offering her a place in his group for protection. She initially declines.

Once the Special Game begins, chaos erupts in the dormitory. Sae-byeok is attacked by Player 040, who chokes her while Deok-su attempts to grab her. She manages to stab Deok-su in the leg, but he retaliates by pushing her against the beds, nearly breaking her arm. As he attempts to strangle her, she kicks him in the groin and tries to escape by climbing over the beds. However, Player 331 shoves her down, and Deok-su repeatedly stabs him in the arm. Realizing the danger, Sae-byeok runs to Gi-hun, now accepting his offer for safety.

Deok-su follows closely behind, but Gi-hun pushes Sae-byeok out of the way and engages him. She kicks Deok-su but is soon struck in the head by a bottle-wielding Player 303. Despite this, Sae-byeok, Gi-hun, Sang-woo, and Ali manage to fend off Deok-su's team and survive the riot. From atop a high bunk, Player 001 pleads for the chaos to stop, shouting that he is scared. The Front Man takes notice and orders the guards to end the game.

The next morning, players must form teams of 10 for the third game. Sang-woo insists that their team needs strong men, leading him and Gi-hun to recruit five additional members. Ali partners with Player 276, forming a bond over their shared experience as foreigners. Sang-woo persuades Player 196 to join, while Gi-hun recruits Player 244, a pastor.

Meanwhile, Sae-byeok finds Ji-yeong (Player 240) alone and invites her to join. Their team is still short one player, and Mi-nyeo complains about their weakness. Overhearing this, she confidently steps in, declaring herself better than Sae-byeok and Ji-yeong. The timer runs out, finalizing the teams.

The players are led to a new arena, where the guards announce the game: Tug of War. The rules are explained, and lots are drawn to determine matchups. Gi-hun’s team (Team 4) is selected to face Team 5 in the second round. Their group initially doubts their chances, but Player 001 offers a strategy, arguing that Tug of War isn’t just about brute strength. Though dismissed by some teammates due to his age, Gi-hun insists they listen.

Il-nam explains that a strong leader should stand at the front to guide the team. At the back, a reliable anchor provides stability. The remaining players should alternate positions along the rope, keeping their feet straight and gripping the rope under their arms for maximum control. Lastly, they must lean back and hold their ground for ten seconds to exhaust the opposing team. Gi-hun is chosen as the leader, and Ali takes the anchor position.

As the round begins, Team 4 successfully holds their ground, preventing Team 5 from making progress. Eventually, Team 5’s leader slips, allowing Team 4 to pull ahead. Just as Team 5 is about to be dragged off the platform, they rally and regain control, pushing Team 4 to the brink of defeat.

With their survival at stake, Sang-woo devises a desperate last-second strategy. He instructs the team to take three quick steps forward, disrupting Team 5’s balance. The tactic works, and Team 4 regains the upper hand, pulling their opponents to their deaths and securing victory.

The 40 remaining contestants must endure another tense night, with trust between them growing thin. During dinner, Sang-woo recalls the previous night’s deadly riot and warns his team to prepare for another possible attack. While discussing their strategy, Sae-byeok reveals that she saw a player die in front of her—his neck snapped by an ally. She then questions her teammates’ trust in her, openly stating that she does not trust any of them.

As Gi-hun urges the team to rearrange their beds into a barricade for protection, Sae-byeok is seen helping Ji-yeong move sections of their bunks. Later, while Gi-hun stands guard with Il-nam, he appears unwell. Sae-byeok, recently awakened, offers him a bottle of water. Gi-hun insists that she can go back to sleep, but she reminds him of their plan to keep watch in pairs. Thanking her for the water, Gi-hun promises to repay her the next day.

The following day, the remaining players move to the next game. As they walk through the staircase room, they witness the bodies of Byeong-gi and his co-conspirators hanging as a warning. The Front Man speaks over the intercom, reaffirming that the games are based on fairness and that cheating will not be tolerated.

For the fourth game, the players must form pairs. Many instinctively team up with those they trust, unaware of the true nature of the challenge. Sae-byeok partners with Ji-yeong. Once the teams are set, the rules of the game—Marbles—are revealed. The objective is to win all of the opponent’s marbles through a sub-game of their choosing, but without using violence. Anyone who loses all their marbles is eliminated. Additionally, a strict 30-minute time limit is in place; if neither player wins by the deadline, both will be eliminated.

This revelation shocks the players, as most had chosen their partners out of trust, not realizing they would now have to compete against them.

Sae-byeok and Ji-yeong choose to spend their time talking rather than competing in the Marbles game. As they open up to each other, Sae-byeok recounts her tragic past in North Korea, where a plague took the lives of her grandfather, grandmother, and older brother. Her family attempted to escape to South Korea for a better life, but only she and her younger brother made it across. Her father was shot and drowned while trying to cross the border, and her mother was caught and deported back to North Korea. Ji-yeong, in turn, reveals that she and her mother suffered abuse at the hands of her father, a pastor who would pray for forgiveness after each assault. One day, Ji-yeong returned home from school to find that her father had murdered her mother. In retaliation, she killed him. She was sent to prison and received the Squid Game card the day she was released.

When Ji-yeong asks Sae-byeok what she would do with the prize money, Sae-byeok says she would rescue her mother from North Korea, buy a house for her family, and maybe take a vacation to Jeju Island. Ji-yeong teases her for picking such a simple destination, suggesting she dream bigger. She then promises to take Sae-byeok on a shopping trip before they remember the grim reality of their situation.

As time runs out, they finally decide to play, choosing a simple game where the winner is whoever throws their marble closest to the wall. Sae-byeok throws hers and lands it near the wall, but to her shock, Ji-yeong simply drops her marble, allowing her to win by default. When Sae-byeok protests, Ji-yeong explains that she has nothing left to fight for, whereas Sae-byeok still has a future to live for. She tearfully asks Sae-byeok to live a full life if she makes it out alive. As Sae-byeok is led away, Ji-yeong calls out to her one last time, thanking her for playing with her before being executed. Unable to watch, Sae-byeok looks away in devastation, only listening as Ji-yeong is shot.

In the next game, "Glass Stepping Stones," Sae-byeok, Gi-hun, and Sang-woo successfully cross the bridge just as the timer expires. The remaining glass panels explode, sending shards flying. A large piece of glass impales Sae-byeok’s abdomen. Later, while changing into her finalist uniform, she painfully removes the shard and uses part of her shirt to wrap the wound in an attempt to slow the bleeding.

That evening, the three finalists are served a luxurious steak dinner as a reward for making it this far. Gi-hun and Sang-woo eat while keeping a wary eye on each other, but Sae-byeok, clearly weakened, barely touches her food. After the meal, the workers clear the table but leave the players’ steak knives behind. Each player takes their knife and heads to bed, knowing that only one of them can win.

Back in the dorms, the finalists rest on their beds. Gi-hun approaches Sae-byeok, who instinctively grips her knife, but he reassures her that he means no harm and tucks his knife into his jacket. They talk about their families and what they would do if they won the money. They promise to take care of each other’s loved ones if one of them doesn’t make it.

Gi-hun notices Sang-woo dozing off and, seeing an opportunity, takes out his knife. Before he can act, Sae-byeok stops him, reminding him that he is not a killer. Moments later, she slumps over in her bed. Gi-hun rushes to her side and sees that her wound is bleeding heavily. Delirious, Sae-byeok weakly murmurs about wanting to go home. Desperate to save her, Gi-hun sprints to the door and bangs on it, pleading for medical help.

The doors finally open, and the lights turn on, but instead of medical assistance, Workers carrying a coffin walk past him. Gi-hun turns around and sees Sang-woo standing near Sae-byeok’s bed, his hands covered in blood. Racing to her side, Gi-hun cradles her lifeless body and discovers a stab wound in her neck. The horrifying realization sets in—Sang-woo had killed her while he was distracted. Enraged, Gi-hun grabs his knife and lunges at Sang-woo, but Soldiers quickly restrain both of them.

As the Workers lift Sae-byeok’s body into a coffin, Gi-hun wails in anguish, his grief overwhelming him. Sae-byeok places third overall in the 33rd Squid Game, making her the highest-ranking female contestant of that year.

Legacy

During the Squid Game finale, Sang-woo justified his decision to kill Sae-byeok by claiming he wanted to end her suffering since she was already in immense pain. However, Gi-hun rejected this reasoning, arguing that she could have been saved. Sang-woo then admitted the real reason—he feared Gi-hun would have ended the game to save her. After winning the 33rd Squid Game, Gi-hun honored his promise to Sae-byeok by ensuring her younger brother, Kang Cheol, was cared for. He placed Kang Cheol in the custody of Sang-woo’s mother and gave them a portion of his winnings to support them.

In Bread and Lottery, a dream sequence shows Gi-hun monitoring four surveillance cameras around his neighborhood. Suddenly, the Front Man rings his doorbell repeatedly. As Gi-hun cautiously approaches with a gun in hand, a Squid Game invitation card slips under his door. When he finally opens it, the Front Man stands before him, presenting the severed heads of Sang-woo and Sae-byeok, mockingly asking if Gi-hun was "looking for these?" In a panic, Gi-hun fires his gun at the Front Man in fear and desperation.

Powers and Statistics

Tier: 9-C

Powers and Abilities: Peak Human Physical Characteristics, Martial Arts, Social Influencing, Stealth Mastery (Managed to sneak around ventilation shafts, skilled Pickpocket)

Attack Potency: Street level (Could harm Jang Deok-su, Superior to Deok-su's minions, who have also killed players with their bare hands and various players who overpowered a few Guards)

Speed: Peak Human (Managed to keep up with Jang Deok-su in combat. Outran various street thugs and police officers)

Lifting Strength: Peak Human

Striking Strength: Street level

Durability: Street level

Stamina: Peak Human

Range: Standard Melee Range; Extended Melee Range with his knife

Standard Equipment: A knife

Intelligence: At least Above Average, possibly Gifted

Weaknesses: Standard human weaknesses

Trivia

• Her name, Sae-byeok (새벽), means "dawn" in Korean. A track titled Dawn plays when Gi-hun discovers her elimination.
• With a height of 176 cm (5'9.3"), Sae-byeok is one of the tallest female characters in the show.
• She has a scar on the side of her neck, which Gi-hun recognized from their first encounter when she stole his bet money.
• Kang Sae-byeok had approximately 20 minutes of screen time.
• Some speculate a connection between Sae-byeok and Kang No-eul due to their shared surname and birthplace. Their names translate to "sunrise" and "sunset" in Korean, but there is no evidence supporting this theory.
• Actress HoYeon Jung revealed that she genuinely cried during Ji-yeong's death scene in Gganbu.