Hwang Dong-hyuk finally responds to the criticisms aimed at Hyun-ju, a trans woman glimpsed in the trailer for the second season
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| Image Credit: Netflix |
There are now just a few days left until the release of Squid Game 2, the second season of the Netflix K-drama starring Lee Jung-Jae in the role of Seong Gi-hun, more determined than ever to bring about the end of the games once and for all. The series, however, is already the target of criticism and negative comments, starting with the presence in the cast of Choi Seung-hyun, better known by his stage name T.O.P., a controversial figure in his homeland due to a conviction for drug use, and ending with the character of Hyun-ju, who appeared for the first time in the latest trailer. Hyun-ju is a trans woman who decided to participate in the Squid Game 2 games to get the money needed to pay for gender affirmation surgery.
However, since its first appearance, fans have noticed that it is played by a cisgender man, Park Sung-hoon. This decision has made many viewers turn up their noses, who have wondered why the production did not look for a real trans actress for this role. Given the growing outcry of controversy, the director and creator of Squid Game 2 Hwang Dong-hyuk intervened on the subject, explaining that it was a practically obligatory choice. South Korea is in fact a country where there is still strong discrimination - both social and legal - towards members of the LGBTQIA+ community. As a result, there are very few actors and actresses who openly state in front of the cameras that they are, for example, homosexual or trans.
"When we started looking for the interpreter, I had in mind to choose a trans actress - explained Hwang -. But the casting took place in South Korea, where there are practically no openly trans actors or even gay ones. Unfortunately, the LGBTQIA+ community is still quite marginalized and discriminated against in our society, which breaks my heart. It was almost impossible to find someone who could authentically represent this character. And this led us to the decision to opt for Sung-hoon, an actor I have known personally since his debut and in whom I have the utmost confidence. I knew he would be the right person to play Hyun-ju."
In addition to actors, there are also very few trans characters represented in K-dramas, or Korean TV series. Besides the one in Squid Game 2, the most famous is probably Ma Hyun-yi from Itaewon Class. The latter was welcomed by the public at the time of the series' release (2020); however, it was still played by a cisgender woman, actress Lee Joo-young.
Squid Game 2 will arrive on Netflix on December 26, 2024.
Source: TV Guide