Why Sang-woo Took the Shocking Measure of Killing Sae-byeok
Sang-woo slit Sae-byeok‘s throat to remove any chance she could be saved, calculating it necessary to prevent Gi-hun from halting the games. His desperation to erase debts through victory drove him to value the prize over a dying teammate‘s life.
Sang-woo‘s Ruin Put Winning the Prize as His Only Hope
Before appearing in Squid Game, Sang-woo was an investment banker who perpetrated financial fraud that left him over $5 million in debt. His background reveals what motivated his ruthless actions to win at any cost:
- Leader of an investments team – Rose to run a team at prominent firm Joy Investments
- Embezzled client funds – Illegally used funds for high-risk derivatives trading
- Racket exposed – His scheme collapsed with massive losses
- Owed immense debts – Creditors and victims owed over $5 million
| Sangwoo‘s Assets | Value (USD) |
|---|---|
| Debt Owed | $5,000,000 |
| Bank Account | $6,300 |
With liabilities far beyond his assets, winning the ₩45.6 billion prize was Sang-woo‘s only path back to solvency. This financial ruin explains why he was willing to betray anyone to win.
Killing Sae-byeok Eliminated a Threat to Victory
Familiar with Gi-hun‘s kind-heartedness, Sang-woo determined that Gi-hun may intervene to aid the mortally wounded Sae-byeok. This would likely prompt players to vote on ending the games prematurely:
Sang-woo envisions Gi-hun disrupting the games to help Sae-byeok
With tensions already high between the remaining players, Sang-woo feared a vote could turn against him:
| Risks to Sangwoo of a Vote | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Betrayals create enemies | Backstabbing allies like Ali made Sangwoo disliked |
| Physically weakened | Injured leg reduced Sangwoo‘s advantage |
| Gi-hun‘s sympathy vote | As Sae-byeok‘s friend, Gi-hun may cast a pivotal vote against Sangwoo |
By preemptively killing Sae-byeok himself, Sang-woo protected his own survival in the game by preventing intervention on her behalf.
The Context Building Up to Sae-Byeok‘s Death
In the bridge game, Sae-byeok suffered grievous wounds from an explosion. With Gi-hun‘s urging, the staff refused to help and demanded players return:
Gi-hun: "She needs help urgently!"
Staff: "No exceptions. Everyone back now."Bleeding heavily and unable to walk unaided, Sae-byeok begged Gi-hun:
Sae-byeok: "Just help me back. I can do this."But secretly, Sang-woo predicted Gi-hun‘s intervention and made his calculation to act.
A Painful, Personal Betrayal
With Gi-hun momentarily stepping away seeking medics, Sang-woo approached the barely conscious Sae-byeok:
Sang-woo mercilessly slits the throat of the helpless Sae-byeok
Plunging in the knife with both hands, Sang-woo tore open Sae-byeok‘s neck as she convulsed in agony, then slowly bled out from her gaping wound.
Gi-hun returned to this horrific sight – his friend dying from Sang-woo‘s hands.
Squid Game as a Contradiction on Humanity
Despite their past friendship and Sae-byeok‘s dire situation, Sang-woo butchers her for his own gain. This demonstrates how the game incentivizes losing one‘s humanity.
Professor Chae Kyung-seok commented:
"The shows depict how capitalism degrades humans as they are forced to compete in deadly games for money."
While Sang-woo‘s background provides insight into his motivations, it does not excuse ruthlessly killing a helpless girl who trusted him.
Conclusion: A Measure of Desperation
Sang-woo‘s framing of Sae-byeok‘s murder says it all:
Sang-woo: "I had no choice. We‘d come too far to stop now."Facing financial oblivion if he lost, Sang-woo resorted to any means to continue the games. His actions represent how the prize money outweighed human life itself for those playing for their survival. Though understandable what drove him there, his horrific betrayal of Sae-byeok is the nature of Squid Game – showing how people stripped of their humanity are capable of terrorizing evil, especially under desperation.
