The unnamed homeless man is a supporting character in Train to Busan.
He is portrayed by Choi Gwi-hwa.
He has a severe limp, possibly from tripping or spraining one of his ankles during a zombie attack.
History[]
The homeless man had been one of the first to witness the horrifying effects of an unknown virus spreading rapidly among people, an experience so traumatic that it left him suffering from severe PTSD. Desperate to escape the chaos, he boards a train bound for Busan and quickly hides himself inside one of the restrooms, hoping to avoid any confrontation. However, his presence does not go unnoticed for long. Yong-suk, a wealthy and self-important businessman, becomes suspicious of him and insists that the train staff force the man off at the next stop. Despite an attendant knocking on the door and urging him to come out, fear grips him too tightly, and he refuses to leave his hiding place.
As time passes, more and more passengers begin to fall victim to the infection, which spreads through the train at an alarming rate. Eventually, Seok-woo, a fund manager traveling with his young daughter, spots the homeless man once again. By then, the situation has already escalated into pure chaos. Having overheard earlier conversations, the homeless man recalls that passengers arriving in Daejeon are expected to be placed under quarantine. As the train reaches the station, he cautiously points this out to the group, hoping they will be prepared for what awaits them. However, before they can act, he notices a soldier among the stationed military forces—only to witness the horrifying moment when the man is attacked and killed by a group of infected soldiers.
Realizing the danger they are in, the homeless man does not hesitate to act. He steps in just in time to save Seok-woo from an oncoming zombie, and he rushes back to the train, joining Seong-kyeong, Su-an, and In-gil in one of the train cars. With zombies rapidly closing in, they make the quick decision to barricade themselves inside the restroom, hoping it will keep them safe, at least temporarily. Soon after, they are rescued by Sang-hwa, Seok-woo, and Yong-guk, who manage to fight their way through the infected to reach them. However, their relief is short-lived, as they soon find themselves pursued by zombies once again.
Desperate to escape, the homeless man teams up with Yong-guk, working frantically to open a door that leads to safety. Unfortunately, the other passengers, fearing for their own lives, block the door, refusing to let them enter. The situation grows more dire by the second, and in the end, Seok-woo and his group manage to break through only because of the selfless sacrifices made by In-gil and Sang-hwa, who stay behind to fend off the zombies. However, even after making it into the next car, the remaining survivors are met with hostility. The other passengers, still terrified and unwilling to take any risks, reject them outright. The homeless man, rather than argue or fight back, is the first to silently turn and leave, leading the group away from the unwelcoming crowd. Together with Seok-woo, his daughter Su-an, Seong-kyeong, and the two teenagers, Jin-hee and Yong-guk, they move toward the front of the train. They learn from the conductor that he plans to switch locomotives in an effort to get the remaining passengers to Busan safely.
When the train comes to a sudden stop after a violent collision, the homeless man follows the rest of the group outside, trying to find a way forward. However, before he can reach safety, he becomes trapped between the wreckage of the train cars. As Seok-woo frantically searches for an escape route, a loud shattering sound echoes through the air, the last intact window at the back of the crashed train has broken, allowing a swarm of zombies to pour out toward them. The homeless man turns back, his eyes flickering between the advancing horde and the remaining survivors, Seong-kyeong and little Su-an, who are frozen in fear.
Without hesitation, he grabs hold of several thick wires hanging from the wreckage and uses them to create a makeshift blockade between himself and the approaching zombies. His sacrifice buys the others just enough time to escape. Seong-kyeong pauses for a brief moment, looking back at him with sorrow, but he urges them to go, insisting they hurry before it is too late.
As the last of the survivors disappear into the distance, he finally allows himself to turn back toward the oncoming zombies. Tears stream down his face as he clings to the wires, his body trembling, not from fear, but from the sheer weight of everything he has endured. The creatures snarl and claw at him, their strength growing in numbers. The structure around him begins to crack, and as more windows shatter, the train car starts to collapse. Yet, even in his final moments, he does not let go. Whether he is ultimately crushed beneath the wreckage or turned into one of the undead remains unknown.
Trivia[]
- The actor of this character plays Player 203, also known as Kim Gi-min in Squid Game season 2 and season 3.