Summary
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Il-nam could be Front Man's father because of the milk scenes and their involvement in the game. (Characters: In-ho and Il-nam)
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Based on similar scenes and regional connections, fans speculate that Il-nam may also be Gi-hoon's father. (Characters: Gi Hoon and Il Nam)
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Theories about Il-Nam's connections to the characters add depth to Squid Game and attract fans. (Characters: Various)
There have been many fan theories over the years Squid game and its characters. In season two, Frontman himself joins the Games and becomes a more prominent character, giving fans a deeper look into his past and his family. While the only confirmed relationship is his brother Jun Ho, many speculate that he may also be related to someone else in the series – namely a key character from the first season.
This theory revolves around Il-Nam secretly being Front Man's father. Fans have found several different signs that point to this, making this theory plausible for the game leader. That's what was collected for Squid game theories.
This article contains spoilers for Season 2 of The Squid Game.

Relatives
Squid Game: the best games of season 2, ranked
The Mingle and Gong-gi are some of the best games in Season 2 of Squid Game.
Is Il-nam the father of the frontman in the squid game?
Destroying the theory
The reasons why many fans are theorizing that Il-Nam might actually be In-Ho's (Front Man) father comes from several different scenes in seasons 1 and 2. After the release of Season 2 in December 2024. fans began piecing this theory together based on what they knew about the two characters.
In Season 1, there is a scene between Gi Hoon and Il Nam who bond during the games where they choose between regular milk and chocolate milk. Gi Hoon chooses the chocolate milk and Il Nam tells him:
I bet you got spanked a lot as a kid… My son did too. He was just like you, my friend.
In a scene from Season 2, In Ho, aka Frontman, drinks plain milk and decides to give it to Joon Hee. He tells her that he doesn't drink plain milk, leading many to associate this scene with the scene between Gi Hoon and Il Nam. Although the original theory about this connection had the captions mistranslated, the correct translations could still hint at the possibility of Il-nam being related to Front Man.
Is this theory plausible?
Can it be rooted in history?
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In-ho and Il-nam's son both dislike milk.
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Both take an active part in the Games.
Although the original theory led fans to believe that both Il-Nam's son and Frontman were both lactose intolerant, even the correct translation could still imply a connection. Frontman, or In-ho, basically implies that he just doesn't prefer milk, which Il-nam tells Gi-hoon. Il-nam implies that his son usually chose chocolate milk over regular milk, which often led to problems. While an actual explanation makes this theory less likely, it could still be woven into the story and appear in Season 3.
This theory may also be more likely due to Il-nam being the original creator of the Games, and after In-ho won in 2015, he became the main man, which already ties the two of them together. It's possible that since In-ho had a hard life before the Games, struggling to make ends meet and save his wife, he didn't know that Il-nam was his father. Even if Il-nam turned out not to be his father, In-ho probably felt a special connection to him, since he gave In-ho a chance to save his wife by participating in the Games and winning the profits. Then, shortly after winning, he decided to continue the legacy of the Games as the main man, especially since his wife did not survive.

Relatives
The Squid Game Season 2: Who Is Jung Bae?
The Squid Game Season 2 brings back the minor character in a big way.
Other theories revolving around Il-nam
Can he be the father of another player?
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A possible connection between Gi-hoon and Il-nam
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It is implied that Gi-Hoon could be Il-Nam's son due to his dislike of milk
There have been other theories related to Il-Nam, including what he might have been Gi-hoon's father instead. Since Gi Hoon's father is never mentioned in the show, just like Frontman, many have gathered some points that may hint at such a possibility.
In particular, some fans analyzed the same scene from season 1 involving milk. Since Il-nam mentions that Gi-hoon looks like his own son, who was also spanked for not liking plain milk, many have speculated that this could mean that Il-nam is actually Gi-hoon's father and not Frontana. Later in the first season, they both realize that they are from the same region and grew up playing the same childhood games.
While this theory is also plausible, it is likely not so strong like the other, due to the fact that Gi-hoon would probably remember what his father looked like if he was around to spank him. Both theories have interesting origins and prove that fans are always looking for little easter eggs and implications, even when the chances of the theories being true are slim to none. Although there is still a chance that it could come true in Season 3 when it comes out later in 2025.

- Release date
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September 17, 2021
- In roles
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Wi Ha Joon, Anupam Tripathi, Oh Young Soo, Hae Sung Tae, Park Hae Soo, Jung Ho Young, Lee Jung Jae, Kim Ju Ryeong
- Seasons
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2
- Showrunner
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Hwang Dong Hyuk