He’s terrifying. Honestly, there isn’t a better word for it. When we talk about Gwi-nam All of Us Are Dead fans usually bring up that specific, bone-chilling smirk he wears while covered in someone else's blood. It’s not just that he’s a bully; it's that he becomes something much worse when the world falls apart. While everyone else is trying to survive the Jonas Virus, Gwi-nam is basically thriving in it. He represents that specific brand of high school cruelty that doesn't just go away when the adults leave—it evolves.
Korean dramas have a knack for creating villains that feel lived-in, but Gwi-nam, played by the incredibly talented Yoo In-soo, hits different. He starts as a lackey. A nobody. He’s the guy who does the dirty work for the "real" bullies because he’s too insecure to lead but too mean to follow the rules. That dynamic is what makes his transformation into a "hambie" or half-zombie so fascinating to watch. He’s no longer the errand boy. He’s the apex predator.
The Evolution of a Monster: Gwi-nam All of Us Are Dead Mechanics
So, how does a guy survive a direct zombie feast? In the show, the Jonas Virus reacts to the host's willpower or intense emotion. For Gwi-nam, that emotion was pure, unadulterated spite. He wanted to kill Lee Cheong-san so badly that his body literally refused to die. This created the "hambie" phenomenon—a hybrid state where he retains his human intelligence and personality but gains the physical perks of the undead.
He’s got the strength. He’s got the healing factor. Most importantly, he’s got the hunger.
Unlike Choi Nam-ra, who struggles with her new nature and tries to protect her friends, Gwi-nam leans into it. He’s basically the anti-hero’s worst nightmare because he has nothing to lose. He loses an eye, he falls off a roof multiple times, and he just keeps coming back like a slasher movie icon from the 80s. You’ve probably seen the memes about how he has "cat lives," and frankly, they aren't wrong. The guy is a cockroach in a denim jacket.
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Why Yoo In-soo’s Performance Matters
We have to give credit where it’s due. Yoo In-soo didn't just play a bad guy; he created a physical language for Gwi-nam. The way he tilts his head, the way he walks with a slight slouch that screams "I don't care if you live or die," it’s all intentional. Before All of Us Are Dead, Yoo was known for much softer roles. Seeing him flip the switch into this level of psychopathy was a shock for a lot of K-drama fans.
The production team at Netflix actually leaned into his physicality. During the scenes in the school library—arguably one of the best set pieces in the series—Gwi-nam moves over the bookshelves with a terrifying grace. It wasn't just CGI. A lot of that was stunt work and choreography designed to make him look less like a shambling corpse and more like a hunter.
The Rivalry That Defined the Show
The heart of the story isn't just the zombies. It’s the beef between Gwi-nam and Cheong-san. It started over a cell phone video, which feels so authentically high school it hurts. Gwi-nam kills the principal—a moment that solidified him as a true psychopath—and Cheong-san records it. From that moment on, the zombie apocalypse is just background noise to Gwi-nam’s personal vendetta.
- He stalks Cheong-san through the school.
- He ignores easier prey just to find his target.
- He loses his eye during a scuffle, which becomes his defining physical trait.
- The final showdown on the construction site is poetic, brutal, and arguably the most talked-about scene in the series.
What’s interesting is that Gwi-nam doesn't see himself as the villain. In his head, he’s the victim of Cheong-san’s "interference." This lack of self-awareness is what makes him so dangerous. You can't reason with a person who believes their own lies, especially when that person can jump off a four-story building and walk it off.
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Breaking Down the Hambie Mythology
There’s a lot of debate among fans about why some people become hambies and others just turn into mindless biters. The show suggests it’s about the "will to survive" or a specific genetic mutation of the virus. In Gwi-nam’s case, it was his obsession. When he was being bitten, he wasn't afraid. He was angry.
This sets a precedent for Season 2. If Gwi-nam survived (and in TV, if you don't see a charred corpse, they aren't dead), what does that mean for the power scale? We saw other hybrids like Eun-ji, who was driven by the desire to destroy the evidence of her bullying. The virus seems to take the host's deepest, darkest impulse and gives it teeth. Literally.
What Most People Get Wrong About Gwi-nam
A common misconception is that Gwi-nam was a "boss" before the outbreak. He wasn't. He was a hanger-on. He was the guy the other bullies mocked. This is crucial for understanding his character. His villainy is a compensation for his previous cowardice. When he gets power, he overcorrects. He’s not a mastermind; he’s a petty man with a god complex.
Another point of contention is his ending. Many viewers felt he was "too" hard to kill. But if you look at the lore of All of Us Are Dead, the virus is an evolutionary leap. Gwi-nam is the first successful "mutation" that fully embraces the predatory nature of the virus. He’s not a glitch; he’s the feature.
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Honestly, the show would have been half as good without him. You need that human face to fear. A wall of nameless zombies is a disaster, but a guy with a knife and a grudge is a story. That’s why Gwi-nam All of Us Are Dead discussions still dominate forums years after the initial release.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Writers
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the world of Hyosan High or perhaps writing your own horror fiction, there are a few things Gwi-nam teaches us about character design and the genre as a whole.
First, look at the "Motivation vs. Circumstance" rule. Gwi-nam isn't scary because he’s a zombie. He’s scary because of what he does with that power. If you’re analyzing the show, pay attention to the sound design whenever he’s on screen. The specific clicking noises and the silence that follows him are masterclasses in building tension.
For those waiting on Season 2 updates, keep a close eye on the "Immune" vs. "Asymptomatic" distinction mentioned in the series. Gwi-nam is asymptomatic—the virus lives in him, he has the symptoms of a predator, but his brain remains intact. This is the key to the future of the series.
To truly understand the impact of this character, re-watch the scene in the principal’s office. Notice how Gwi-nam’s posture changes the moment he realizes the old world's rules no longer apply. That’s the exact second he becomes the villain we all love to hate. Keep an eye on casting news for the upcoming season; even if Gwi-nam doesn't return, his legacy as the blueprint for the "hambie" villain is already set in stone.
Explore the official Netflix behind-the-scenes footage to see Yoo In-soo’s transformation process. It’s worth checking out the original webtoon, Now at Our School, to see how the character differed from his live-action counterpart—you might be surprised at how much more sympathetic (or pathetic) he was in the source material.