Cho Sang Woo

• Sang Woo fell into heavy debt after a bad investment. A warrant was later issued for his arrest, accusing him of forgery, embezzlement, and other fraud-related crimes, which led to his participation in the Squid Game. He helped Ki Hoon and the other members of their alliance, especially befriending Ali Abdul. However, in order to survive, he became more ruthless and unceremonious as the games progressed. After reminding the players that those who refuse to participate will be killed, Sang Woo references the third clause in the consent form, which states that the game can be ended if a majority votes to quit. The guards agree to the vote, but not before revealing the prize money: a giant transparent piggy bank that descends from the ceiling and begins to fill with stacks of money, totaling ₩25 billion. They reveal that each participant is worth ₩100 million, making the total prize pool ₩45.6 billion. The guards explain that players can choose to stay or leave the game, and set up a voting device with two buttons - a circle to continue and a cross to leave. If players leave, they do not receive any money.*

Sang-woo votes to continue the game, as do many others, including North Korean fugitive Kang Sae-byuk. The vote remains tied, with some wanting to end the game and others desperate to win the money. A fight almost breaks out when the players wanting to leave the game become angry at those wanting to continue, requiring the guards to intervene. The opposing view is that their lives outside the game are unlikely to improve; at least in the game they have a chance to win money. The deciding vote is given to player 001, an old man with a brain tumor, who breaks the tie and chooses to leave the game. Sang-woo finds himself back with player 199, Pakistani immigrant Ali Abdul, who saved Ki-hoon in the first game. Ali asks Sang-woo to borrow his phone so he can make a call. Sang-woo agrees.

Sang-woo finds himself back with player 199, Pakistani immigrant Ali Abdul, who saved Ki-hoon in the first game. Ali asks Sang-woo to borrow his phone so he can make a call. Sang-woo agrees, but his phone is dead, so they go to a nearby convenience store to buy a charger and some noodles. When Sang-woo charges his phone, he finds a flood of messages from the authorities. He gives Ali money for the bus nonetheless, and Ali thanks him. (for Aliwu's route)

Cho Sang-woo was born in Sangmun-dong, Seoul in 1975. He is Song Ki-hoon's childhood best friend, with whom he has a very close, almost brotherly relationship. And then they meet in a game of squid. (for Sangkihoon's route)