Cho Hyun-ju (조현주 Jo Hyeon-ju?), also known as Player 120, is a contestant of the Squid Game in 2024. She entered with the goal of getting enough money to fund her gender-affirming surgeries. During the games, Hyun-ju formed an alliance with Park Yong-sik, Jang Geum-ja, and Kim Young-mi.

Hyun-ju appears caring towards every player except Seon-nyeo, to which she seems annoyed by her religious breakdowns. She is also very brave, such as when she risked her own life to help a man with Gi-hun during Red Light, Green Light. Despite this, she appears to be shy and unconfident in herself, likely due to the fact her life took a downturn upon transitioning.

Early Life

Not much is known of Hyun-ju's early years and pre-transition, outside of how much support she got from her family and friends. Growing up, Hyun-ju often played games such as ddakji with her friends, which she was particularly good at. As an adult, Hyun-ju joined the army and rose through the ranks to become a staff sergeant.

While searching further, she encounters the nervous Kim Young-mi, who wants her in her team. She accepts and soon is joined by Park Yong-sik, Jang Geum-ja, and Seon-nyeo. As the game begins, she is able to give Young-mi confidence and then helps her pass ddakji by advising her to throw with the thicker side down.

Hyun-ju threatens to kill Seon-nyeo before her gods do During the Six Legs, Hyun-ju spends most of her watching time stopping Seon-nyeo from disturbing the others. As Seon-nyeo is unable to complete Paengi Chigi, she then has one of her religious-themed breakdowns. This causes Hyun-ju to snap, slapping Seon-nyeo hard twice - enough to make her nose bleed - and threatening to "Kill her before her gods do". Seon-nyeo then succeeds in her game. Before Hyun-ju kicks the jegi, she reveals her shy personality and underlying gender dysphoria by requesting no one to look. They oblige, and she succeeds, causing the team to win the game.