Viewers call out 'Squid Game' for casting a cisgender actor as a trans character

After the premiere of the second season of Netflix’s “Squid Game,” viewers are criticizing the show’s decision to cast a straight cisgender male actor as a trans character Hyun-ju.

After the sophomore-season premiere of Netflix’s wildly popular thriller series “Squid Game,” many viewers are criticizing the South Korean show for casting a straight, cisgender male actor as a transgender woman contestant in the deadly games. 

The new season, which debuted Thursday, features actor Park Sung-hoon, known for playing villains in the television series “The Glory” and “Queen of Tears,” as Hyun-ju, a contestant who enters the high-stakes game in hopes of using her winnings to pay for her gender-affirming surgery.

While some viewers speculated that the storyline could help bring attention to the trans community — which is marginalized in Korean society and underrepresented in the country’s entertainment industry — others said the series missed the mark by not having a trans actor in the role. 

“Netflix squid games 2 didn’t hit the same bc they hired a straight guy to play this character,” one viewer posted on X. “Felt forced instead of organic.”

Park Sung-hoon at the global premiere of "Squid Game" season 2 in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 9. Chung Sung-Jun / Getty ImagesNeither “Squid Game” creator Hwang Dong-hyuk nor Park responded to NBC News’ request for comment. Netflix confirmed that the show did work with trans and LGBTQ consultants while creating the second season, but in an interview with TV Guide, Hwang said it was “near impossible” to find a trans actor for the role.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/squid-game-trans-character-casting-controversy-rcna184845

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