The Mi-Nyeo Detail In Squid Game That Makes No Sense To Fans

Upon its release in September, the Netflix series "Squid Game" rapidly skyrocketed in viewership, eventually becoming the most-watched show ever on the popular streaming platform. According to Business Insider, the Korean series garnered 111 million views worldwide. During this time, it dominated the social media landscape, finding new life in memes, gifs, and passionate Twitter threads (via NBC News). Directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, "Squid Game" follows a group of beleaguered civilians who join a deathly competition for a chance to win a life-changing cash prize. While the games initially appear light-hearted and fun, the situation quickly transforms into a ruthless and lethal battle.

Often considered a dark critique of class inequality (via Bloomberg), the show explores the ways in which many people in South Korea have become entrenched in insurmountable levels of debt, leading to a growing sense of desperation and despair. In "Squid Game," a number of contestants, including the protagonist Seong Gi-hun (Lee Gung-jae), garner sympathy for their complicated and nuanced storylines. While certain characters endure as fan-favorites, such as the resilient Kang Sae-byeok (Jung Hoyeon) and the compassionate Ali Abdul (Anupam Tripathi), other figures have left a mark due to their villainous ways. One such competitor, Han Mi-nyeo (Kim Joo-ryung), has inspired a mixed response from fans, some of whom believe that she is misunderstood. When it comes to her background, however, a specific detail about her past raises eyebrows from other viewers — primarily because, within the context of the show, it doesn't really make sense.

In the first episode of "Squid Game," competitors are blindfolded and transported to a secret compound to participate in a series of games. Soon after, a staggering number of players are killed for not following the rules. Once the challenge finishes, the surviving members demand to speak to the guards, arguing that they all want to be released. Han Mi-nyeo pushes to the front of the crowd, pleading for her freedom because she has a newborn to care for at home.

While the contestants initially vote to end the games, a significant number of them eventually return to the life-or-death competition. One of the surprising characters to make a reappearance is Mi-nyeo. For the rest of "Squid Game," she proves to be a highly manipulative player, often lying and stealing to secure her survival in the subsequent rounds. Notably, she never mentions her baby again, nor does she act as if she is recovering from a recent birth. 

As Reddit u/rosssettti wrote, "How did the crazy, 'annoying' chick just have a baby, then manage to shove a container of cigarettes up inside herself, then have bathroom stall sex with the thug? Anyone who go has had a baby knows this would be impossible just after birth, let alone the physically demanding games she was participating in..." Notably, this forgotten plot appears to bother many viewers, specifically because Mi-nyeo remains an elusive figure for much of the series. 

Without any further context, it is difficult to know whether or not she was simply lying or whether it was a narrative oversight. Considering how easy manipulation comes to Mi-nyeo, some Redditors have pointed out that it's more likely the baby simply doesn't exist and was just a tactic she used to beg for her life.