Squid Game’s Hyun-Ju Actor Breaks Silence On Playing A Trans Woman As A Cis Man & Shares Reaction To Fan Responses

Squid Game actor Park Sung-hoon discusses being a cisgender man playing a transgender woman. Park plays Cho Hyun-ju, who is one of Squid Game season 2’s new characters, and a competitor in the latest iteration of the games. The casting led to criticism of the character not being played by a transgender actress. Squid Game‘s creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, previously addressed this criticism by explaining that the casting decision was made because there are no actors who are openly transgender in Korean society.

While speaking with Variety, Park reflects on the experience and explains why he was amazed by the opportunity. He shares what he hopes audiences can learn from Hyun-ju’s character. In terms of messages from fans, Park admits that there are so many that he cannot read them all, but that he feels relieved and proud of knowing that he plays a character who can make viewers feel empowered. Check out his comments below:

I was quite amazed at the opportunity — I felt like as an actor it was going to be quite the challenge. I did have concerns about portraying a trans woman because I am a cisgender man, so I really wanted to approach it as cautiously and thoughtfully as possible.

I really hope that Hyun-ju will play a part in maybe getting rid of some of those biases. I hope that people who belong in those communities will no longer feel discriminated against or experience disadvantages within society. I hope that everyone can be true to who they really are and feel confident in doing so.

Honestly, so much that I can’t read every single one of them. They thanked me for portraying Hyun-ju, for being loyal to her and doing her justice. And I loved comments saying that they had never seen a trans character like this before and how it was empowering for them. So reading these comments, part of me feels relief and a lot of pride.

What This Means For Squid Game

Park Sung-hoon Approached The Character With Sensitivity

Park’s comments speak to the widespread and positive impact that Squid Game‘s Hyun-ju has had on audiences. This is evident in the countless messages that Park has received, and more importantly, the sincere emotion in those messages. It speaks volumes that Hyun-ju is seen as an empowering character and that so many fans have communicated how they feel the character has been portrayed well in the writing and through Park’s performance.

The controversy is not lost on Park, who had his own concerns before joining Squid Game‘s cast, and ensured that the character is depicted in a thoughtful manner. For a show as far-reaching as Squid Game, it is invaluable to incorporate characters like Hyun-ju who force other characters, and the audience, to question their own biases. Seeing Hyun-ju be true to herself and being accepted by other players sends a powerful message that has already resonated strongly.

Hyun-ju Has Created More Awareness About The Realities Of Being Transgender

In an ideal world, a transgender female character would only be played by a transgender actress. However, this viewpoint does not acknowledge the realities of how it is taboo to be openly transgender in Korean society. Given these challenges, it is better to have a transgender character sensitively played by a cisgender actor than to not have any transgender characters at all. Hyun-ju’s role in the story has raised more awareness about being transgender in general and in Korean culture, and this will undoubtedly continue to be the case as her story continues in Squid Game season 3.

Source: Variety

Squid Game

Release Date

2021 – 2024

Network

Netflix

Showrunner

Hwang Dong-hyuk

Directors

Hwang Dong-hyuk

Writers

Hwang Dong-hyuk

Cast

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  Lee Jung-jae

  Seong Gi-hun / ‘No. 456’

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  Park Hae-soo

  Cho Sang-woo / ‘No. 218’

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