Park Sung-hoon realized there would be expectations put on him after assuming the role of Cho Hyun-ju, a transgender woman in “Squid Game” Season 2 who competes as a player in the games to help finance her gender-affirming surgery.
“I was really surprised by the chance — I sensed that as an actor it would be quite a test,” Park shares with Variety. “I was worried about representing a trans woman since I am a cisgender man, so I aimed to handle it with care and consideration.”
Director and show creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has stated since the show’s debut last December that the choice to cast Park in that role arose due to the limited number of openly transgender actors in South Korea. He mentioned to TVGuide that although he considered more genuine casting, it would be “almost impossible to locate someone we could cast” for the part.
Park shares Hwang’s perspective regarding the absence of transgender actors to admire in South Korea. To prepare for the role, Park, known for portraying openly gay characters in “The Pride” and “Two Weddings and a Funeral,” sought advice from transgender individuals to gain insight from their experiences.
Park expresses, “I truly hope that Hyun-ju can help eliminate some of those biases.” I trust that individuals in those communities will no longer experience discrimination or face disadvantages in society. I wish for everyone to stay genuine to their true selves and feel assured in that.
Debate over cisgender actors portraying trans characters is not a recent issue, as seen with actors such as Eddie Redmayne, who received an Oscar nomination for his role as Lili Elbe in “The Danish Girl,” and later expressed remorse about their casting decisions. To provide context, Karla Sofía Gascón has just made history as the first openly transgender actor nominated for an Academy Award, whereas several cisgender actors like Redmayne, Jared Leto, and Hilary Swank have received nominations or won Oscars for their portrayals of trans characters.
However, in spite of the controversy linked to Park’s participation, in the month since the release of “Squid Game” Season 2 on Netflix, which has turned into the platform’s third-most viewed season ever, Hyun-ju has rapidly gained popularity as a favorite character globally due to her resourcefulness and courage throughout the season.
Numerous details that animate Hyun-ju on the page were a direct outcome of Park’s partnership with Hwang.
“I was the one who suggested she should have short bangs,” Park states. “In the moment when she demonstrates to the group how to operate the MP5 submachine gun, I proposed incorporating the final ‘Understood’ line, as I believed that when she asks it, it truly portrays her strength and fierceness.” It reveals that she is a former Special Forces soldier.
As the third season of “Squid Game” approaches, Park hints that viewers will “experience even more of Hyun-ju’s allure” after that significant Season 2 cliffhanger. Regardless of when Season 3 might debut or where his career leads him next, Park still receives numerous messages from fans.
“Honestly, there are so many that I can’t read all of them,” Park says. “They expressed their gratitude for my portrayal of Hyun-ju, for remaining faithful to her character and representing her properly.” I enjoyed reading remarks expressing that they had never encountered a trans character quite like this one and how it felt empowering to them. Reading these comments gives me a sense of relief and fills me with pride.
