History

Before entering the Squid Game in 2024, Choi Su-bong, known by his stage name “Thanos,” was a popular rapper. He gained recognition after placing second in the rap battle tournament Rap Battlegrounds, missing first place after forgetting his lyrics.

Thanos was an avid fan of YouTuber Lee Myung-gi, watching every video on his channel MG Coin. When Myung-gi promoted a cryptocurrency called “Dalmatian,” Thanos invested all his rap earnings—₩500 million—into it. However, the cryptocurrency turned out to be a scam, leaving him in debt of ₩1.19 billion.

Devastated, Thanos attempted suicide but was stopped by a recruiter who offered him a chance to win his money back through the Squid Game. Viewing it as divine intervention, he entered the deadly competition in hopes of starting a new life and making his mother proud.

Squid Game Experience

Arrival and Initial Interactions

Upon waking up in the Squid Game dormitory, Thanos was among the first to complain to the game managers about his confiscated limited-edition shoes.

Before the first game, he bonded with another contestant, Nam-gyu, over their shared resentment toward Myung-gi for the cryptocurrency scam. Spotting Myung-gi in the crowd, Thanos confronted him aggressively, demanding his money back. He was eventually stopped by Nam-gyu, who reminded him that people were watching.

Red Light, Green Light

Thanos flirted with player 196, Kang Mi-na, moments before the game. When he playfully told her there was a bee on her neck, she moved and was instantly shot. Terrified, Thanos quickly swallowed a drug from a hidden stash in his cross necklace, which drastically changed his demeanor.

Under the drug’s influence, Thanos became reckless, pushing other players forward to be shot while laughing and making playful gestures throughout the game.

Six-Legged Pentathlon

During the second game, Thanos formed a team with Nam-gyu, Gyeong-su, Se-mi, and Park Min-su. Despite his usual arrogance, he showed moments of camaraderie, supporting his teammates.

Mingle and Conflicts

As the contestants were forced to form smaller groups, Thanos repeatedly abandoned weaker players, prioritizing his survival. When Gyeong-su was eliminated, he showed rare distress, calling out his name in grief.

Clashes with Myung-gi

Thanos and Nam-gyu repeatedly targeted Myung-gi, blaming him for their financial ruin. Their confrontations escalated into physical altercations, with Thanos even attempting to force Myung-gi into continued participation.

Final Confrontation and Death

“It’s all mine! Your money! Your life! Everything belongs to Thanos now!”

During a fight in the bathroom, Thanos brutally attacked Myung-gi, but his arrogance led to his downfall. Myung-gi unexpectedly stabbed him in the throat with a fork. Despite the fatal wound, Thanos tried to continue fighting before collapsing and dying next to a bathroom stall.

Personality

Thanos displayed a highly erratic and reckless personality, influenced heavily by his drug use. When sober, he was desperate and emotional, but while under the influence, he became sadistic and manipulative.

Despite his aggression, Thanos was surprisingly charismatic and linguistically talented, often mixing Korean, English, and Spanish in his speech. He had a warped sense of camaraderie, showing attachment to certain teammates while exploiting others.

Trivia

• Thanos’ appearance and stage name reference the Marvel villain “Thanos.”
• His personality and struggles resemble his actor Choi Seung-hyun (T.O.P.), who also faced a drug-related controversy.
• He fluently speaks Korean, English, and Spanish in the show.
• He is responsible for at least eight direct deaths in the games.

Behind the Scenes

Choi Su-bong is portrayed by rapper, singer, and actor Choi Seung-hyun (T.O.P.). In 2017, T.O.P. was blacklisted in the Korean music industry due to a drug scandal. His casting as Thanos in Squid Game Season 2 was met with controversy due to the character’s parallels with his real-life struggles.

Despite the backlash, director Hwang Dong-hyuk praised Seung-hyun for his impressive performance and his courage to return to the public spotlight.