Squid Game season three has delivered some of the most harrowing moments in the series’ history, but no storyline hits harder than that of Jun-hee and her child.
At the center of this emotional whirlwind is Jun-hee’s baby, who ultimately survives in the most shocking way possible. Warning: major spoilers ahead.
A Story of Sacrifice
In the finale, titled “Humans are…,” Jo Yu-ri’s character, Kim Jun-hee (Player 222), makes the ultimate sacrifice to protect her newborn. Unable to continue due to a broken foot, Jun-hee chooses to leap from a sky-high ledge, entrusting her baby’s life to protagonist Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae). Her final act cements her as one of the series’ most selfless figures.
The climax becomes even more tragic when the final game pits Gi-hun against the baby’s father, Player 333 (Yim Swian). Ultimately, Gi-hun wins but faces an impossible choice: only he or Jun-hee’s baby can survive due to the game’s cruel rules. Gi-hun decides to sacrifice himself, leaving the baby as the champion and sole survivor.
The Fate of Jun-hee’s Baby
In one of the series’ most poignant scenes, The Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) delivers Jun-hee’s baby, along with the 45.6 billion won prize (about $31.5 million), to his brother, detective Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon). This act, though bittersweet, suggests a chance for a future beyond the violent games — a glimmer of hope amid overwhelming darkness.
Jo Yu-ri on Becoming Jun-hee
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter through a translator, Jo Yu-ri revealed that she was initially unaware of Jun-hee’s full backstory during the audition process. “All I knew was her name and that she was pregnant,” she shared. Once cast, she pieced together Jun-hee’s struggles, imagining her as someone who tried to become a YouTuber, failed, and ended up working odd jobs before being recruited into the Games.
Jo wore a prosthetic belly throughout filming and practiced moving as a pregnant woman. For the intense birth scene, she worked closely with co-star Kang Ae-sim. “Even if it was a silicone doll, it felt so real to me. I remember tearing up just holding that baby in my arms,” she said.
A Heartbreaking Farewell
Jo described Jun-hee’s final moments as emotionally overwhelming. “My last conversation with Gi-hun was so intense. I felt my emotions spilling over and exploding,” she recalled. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk even had to ask her to rein in her performance for a more restrained delivery. Her scene with Player 333 was especially meaningful, as it had been her audition piece. Even after cameras stopped, Jo continued crying.
The Baby’s Shocking Role
The reveal that Jun-hee’s baby would become an official player — taking on her mother’s Player 222 number — devastated Jo. “I remember feeling despair and not wanting that to happen,” she said. At the time, she hadn’t read beyond episode five and hoped that detective Jun-ho might stop the Games, allowing multiple survivors. Though that outcome never materialized, Jo took solace in knowing that the baby ultimately survived.
A Legacy Beyond the Games
While Jun-hee doesn’t live to see her child grow, her sacrifice ensures that Jun-hee’s baby has a chance at life beyond the Games. With the prize money secured and the baby now under Jun-ho’s protection, the finale hints at a fragile but real hope for the future.
Jo Yu-ri’s moving portrayal of Jun-hee and the shocking narrative arc of Jun-hee’s baby underscore the series’ brutal commentary on sacrifice and survival. Even in a story defined by violence and despair, the finale leaves viewers contemplating the cost of hope — and the price of humanity.
