A game to earn money

Seong Gi-hun meets a salesman (Gong Yoo) who invites him to play a simple game of ddakji for some money. Ddakji is a Korean game, and this is how all participants were recruited into the Squid Game. The red and blue colors of the envelope are a nod to Japanese legend Aka Manto, who is a masked spirit asking people if they want red or blue paper in the bathroom. After several rounds of the game — and several slaps — Gi-hun finally wins a round. The man gives him a card with a number that is his entry to the Squid Game.