The Front Man saved the baby because Gi-hun's sacrifice restored his last piece of humanity. After watching Gi-hun voluntarily die to save an innocent life, Hwang In-ho—the man who orchestrated hundreds of deaths—was moved to commit his first act of mercy in years.
This moment represents the emotional climax of the Front Man's three-season arc, showing that even the games' architect wasn't completely beyond redemption.
The Front Man's Arc Across 3 Seasons
Season 1: The Mystery The Front Man appears as an enigmatic figure in a black mask, running the games with cold efficiency. His identity—Hwang In-ho, a former winner—is revealed only at the end.
Season 2: The Brother We learn In-ho won the games before becoming their overseer. His brother Jun-ho infiltrates the island trying to save him, only to be shot and left for dead.
Season 3: The Philosophy In-ho becomes the ideological antagonist, arguing that humans are inherently selfish. He bets Gi-hun that no one will voluntarily sacrifice themselves—and loses.
The Transformation: In-ho became the Front Man because winning the games convinced him that humanity was corrupt. Gi-hun's sacrifice proves him wrong.
His Relationship with Gi-hun
The Front Man and Gi-hun share a strange connection—they're both winners who were transformed by the games, but in opposite directions.
- Both entered the games desperate
- Both won against impossible odds
- Both carry survivor's guilt
Divergence: Gi-hun's win made him question the system; In-ho's made him embrace it. Where Gi-hun saw humanity's potential for good, In-ho saw only its capacity for selfishness.
The Bet: In-ho essentially bet his entire worldview on Gi-hun being unable to sacrifice himself. When Gi-hun proved him wrong, In-ho had to confront that his philosophy was built on a lie.
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Lee Byung-hun's Explanation
In post-finale interviews, actor Lee Byung-hun discussed the Front Man's choice:
"In-ho has spent years convincing himself that everyone is like him—capable of murder for money. Gi-hun's sacrifice destroys that certainty. For a moment, In-ho remembers who he was before the games. Before he became a monster."
The Physical Act: In-ho doesn't just let the baby survive—he personally retrieves the child from the platform. It's a hands-on act of care from a man who usually kills through proxies.
What It Cost Him: By saving the baby, In-ho betrays everything he's built. The VIPs, the system, his own identity as the games' enforcer. He becomes a traitor to his own creation.
Connection to His Own Past
Fan theories suggest the Front Man may have lost a child before or during his original games. While never confirmed, several hints support this:
- His visceral reaction to the baby's cries
- Deleted scenes showing him looking at children's drawings
- His brother Jun-ho's comments about their family
Thematic Resonance: Whether or not In-ho literally lost a child, the baby represents lost innocence—something In-ho sacrificed when he first won and then chose to run the games.
Redemption Arc: Saving the baby doesn't erase In-ho's crimes, but it breaks the cycle. The baby will grow up without the games' trauma, something In-ho himself can never claim.
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What He Does After
Delivers the Money: In-ho ensures Gi-hun's wishes are honored, transferring the prize money to his daughter in America.
Escapes to Los Angeles: The final scene shows In-ho in LA, establishing a new recruiting ground. Even after his moment of mercy, he hasn't abandoned the games entirely—he's just moved them somewhere new.
Sets Up Spinoffs: The LA ending (featuring Cate Blanchett as a recruiter) suggests Squid Game will continue in new forms, with In-ho potentially playing a different role.