Squid Game director Hwang Dong Hyuk has come under fire for casting a cisgender actor to play a transgender character in the series’ upcoming season 2.
Park Sung-hoon, known for his roles in K-dramas like The Glory and The Queen of Tears, will portray Hyun-Ju, a former special forces soldier who joins the deadly games to fund her gender-affirming surgery.
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“Even though she faces prejudices and tough situations, she shows incredible strength, decisiveness, and natural leadership. Through her resilience, she breaks down stereotypes and shines as an inspiring character,” Park said in a recent featurette.
The inclusion of a transgender character in a Korean drama is a significant step, especially in a country where same-sex marriage remains illegal. However, many viewers have expressed disappointment and frustration over the decision to cast a cisgender actor in a transgender role. They argue that this undermines authentic representation and that a transgender actor should have been given the opportunity to portray the character.
“This is not how you give representation… a cis man pretending to be part of a minority group just doesn’t sit right with me, especially when they could’ve hired an actual trans actress,” one person wrote on X/Twitter.
this is not how you give representation… a cis man pretending to be part of a minority group just doesn't sit right with me, especially when they could've hired an actual trans actress
— dawnmoer (@dawnmoer) December 4, 2024
Others have defended the casting choice, citing the challenges of finding suitable transgender actors in South Korea, where the LGBTQ+ community faces significant discrimination. They argue that the show’s attempt to include a transgender character is a step forward for representation in Korean media.
“While I get these comments, I really do, I just wanna say that this discourse comes up everytime someone plays a queer and/or trans person. This is a Korean show (!!) that takes a tiny step forward to showing representation,” another viewer said.
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The controversy surrounding the casting of Park Sung-hoon highlights the ongoing debate about representation and authenticity in media. As Squid Game season 2 prepares to premiere on Netflix on December 26, the discussion is likely to continue.
