The creator of Squid Game has revealed the reason why they didn’t cast a trans actor as Player 120.
The casting of cisgender actor Park Sung-hoon as transgender character Hyun-ju (Player 120) in the Netflix TV show sparked significant debate when the decision was announced.
“Could they not cast an actual transgender woman… this gonna p**s me off,” one person wrote.
Another said: “It feels wrong to not have the role be played by an actual trans woman, but since that’s already off the table, my only hope is that the character is done well. Please don’t be a stereotype.”
Now, series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has revealed the sobering reality behind this controversial casting choice, shedding light on the ongoing struggles faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in South Korean society.
When Park Sung-hoon was announced to play Hyun-ju, a transgender woman who enters the deadly games hoping to afford gender-affirming surgery, the response was immediate and critical.
Many questioned why a cisgender actor was chosen to portray such an important transgender character, particularly given the ongoing conversations about authentic representation in media.
The actor himself understood the weight of the decision.
“When I first heard that I was going to play a trans woman in Squid Game, I thought it was a very good challenge for me as an actor to take up,” Park told The Hollywood Reporter.
“But at the same time, I questioned myself. Would it be acceptable for me, as a cisgender actor, to play a trans woman character? So I had my worries. I had my concerns.”
Despite the controversy, Park Sung-hoon took his responsibility seriously. He was determined to avoid perpetuating harmful stereotypes that have plagued transgender representation in Korean media.
“I was determined to make her into a character who is not a caricature,” Park explained. “I did not want to reduce her to stereotypes. I really wanted to focus on the inner qualities that she has, the traits that are so redeeming.”
His preparation was extensive.
“I interviewed a lot of transgender individuals, got some advice from them, and I also did loads and loads of research so that I could study more about this community and the individuals,” he shared.
What sets Hyun-ju apart from previous transgender characters in Korean media is her complexity and heroism.
Rather than being defined solely by her transgender identity, she emerges as one of the series’ most admirable characters.
“She has a good heart. She’s selfless. She cares about others. She’s a good leader; she’s charismatic and brave,” Park noted.
This multidimensional portrayal was intentional, aimed at moving beyond the ‘flat’ and stereotypical representations that have dominated Korean entertainment.
Tragically, Hyun-ju’s story ends heroically in season three, where she dies protecting her friends, including a pregnant woman and her newborn baby.
“She dies trying to protect her friends,” Park reflected. “I think that shows that her heart is really made of gold.”
Park hopes this will open doors: “I think Hyun-ju is going to open up doors for more multi-dimensional LGBTQ+ characters going forward.”
Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk anticipated the controversy but explained that the casting decision wasn’t made lightly.
The reason, he revealed, exposes a troubling aspect of South Korean society’s treatment of its LGBTQ+ community.
“When we researched in Korea, there are close to no actors that are openly trans, let alone openly gay, because unfortunately, in the Korean society currently, the LGBTQ community is still marginalized and more neglected, which is heartbreaking,” Hwang explained to TV Guide.
This statement reveals a stark reality: the very people who could have authentically portrayed this character remain largely invisible in Korean entertainment, not by choice but due to societal pressures and discrimination.
The inclusion of Hyun-ju wasn’t arbitrary. Hwang explained that the games traditionally attract society’s most marginalized individuals, and transgender people, unfortunately, fall into this category in contemporary Korea.
“The people who come to join the games in Squid Game are usually marginalized or neglected from society,” Hwang told Gizmodo.
“Currently, unfortunately, in Korean society, the gender minority is a group that is not as widely accepted within society. I wanted to create a character that would represent that.”
The creator hopes that Hyun-ju’s portrayal could serve a greater purpose: “By creating a character like Hyun-ju, through her choices, her actions, and the way she carries herself in the game, I hope that that could raise awareness of these issues that we face today.”
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