Netflix’s acclaimed Korean series Squid Game is generating controversy following the announcement that actor Park Sung-hoo will portray the character of Hyun-Ju, a transgender woman, in the upcoming season two.
Park, 39, is a prominent cisgender male actor who has featured in K-Dramas such as The Glory and The Queen of Tears. In a featurette that introduces the season two cast, Park characterized is role, Hyun-Ju, as a former special forces soldier who enters the life-or-death competition to fund her gender-affirming surgery.
“Despite facing prejudices and difficult circumstances, she demonstrates remarkable strength, decisiveness, and inherent leadership. Through her tenacity, she dismantles stereotypes and emerges as an inspiring figure,” Park elaborated.
The introduction of a transgender character in a Korean drama is noteworthy, given the nation’s traditional perspectives and the lack of legal recognition for same-sex marriage. Nevertheless, numerous viewers have conveyed dissatisfaction that a transgender actress was not selected for the role.
“This is not how you provide representation. . . a cis man pretending to be part of a minority group just doesn’t feel right to me, especially when they could’ve hired an actual trans actress,” one individual remarked on X/Twitter.
“Could they not cast an actual transgender woman… this is gonna irritate me,” another commenter expressed. “Just allow a trans woman to do it,” a third one stated.
On the other hand, some defended the casting choice, pointing out that South Korea is not particularly progressive regarding LGBTQ+ and transgender representation. “It’s South Korea and they aren’t that accommodating in this trans or LGBTQ matter. Where do you expect to find a trans woman, particularly in the industry? ” one commenter highlighted.
“While I understand these remarks, I truly want to say that this discussion arises every time someone portrays a queer and/or trans character. This is a Korean show (! ! ) that takes a small step forward in depicting representation. If we only had trans and queer individuals in these roles, we likely wouldn’t have received a significant portion of the representation we’ve witnessed in media over the past 80 years,” another person responded.
“Some of our most beloved queer characters have been portrayed by cis individuals. Even though casting an actual trans actress would have been ideal, as a trans person, I’m eager to see this character and I am looking forward to the actor’s performance,” another individual added.
Squid Game season two is scheduled to debut on Netflix on December 26.
The official series description states: “Three years after winning Squid Game, Player 456 remains committed to uncovering those behind the game and putting a stop to their cruel sport. Using his wealth to support his quest, Gi-hun begins with the most obvious starting point: searching for the man in a sharp suit playing ddakji in the subway. However, when his efforts finally bear fruit, the journey to dismantle the organization turns out to be far more lethal than he expected: to end the game, he must re-enter it. ”
