‘Squid Game’ Actor Park Sung-hoon Had ‘Concerns’ About Playing a Trans Woman But Felt ‘Relief’ After Fan Messages

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Park Sung-hoon understood that he’d face considerable expectations once he assumed the character of Cho Hyun-ju, a transgender woman in “Squid Game” Season 2, who enters the games to raise funds for her gender confirmation surgery.

Park shared with EbMaster that he was genuinely thrilled by the opportunity, recognizing it would be quite demanding for an actor. With apprehension about playing a transgender woman since he is a cisgender male, he emphasized his desire to handle the role sensitively and carefully.

In an interview following the show’s release in December, creator and director Hwang Dong-hyuk revealed the decision to cast Park for the lead role was due to a scarcity of openly transgender actors in South Korea. He expressed that while he aimed for authentic casting, finding a suitable actor would be extremely challenging. As reported by TVGuide, this was the reason behind his choice.

I share Hwang’s perspective on the scarcity of transgender actors as role models in South Korea. In my pursuit to authentically portray such roles, I have turned to transgender individuals for guidance, having previously played openly gay characters in “The Pride” and “Two Weddings and a Funeral.” I seek to learn from their personal journeys and experiences to better embody these important roles.

Park expresses his hope that Hyun-ju might contribute significantly towards eradicating some prejudices. He wishes that individuals from these communities no longer have to face discrimination or encounter societal disadvantages. Ultimately, he desires a world where everyone feels comfortable being their authentic selves.

It’s not a fresh topic of debate: cisgender actors portraying trans characters has long been a subject of contention, with Eddie Redmayne – who was up for an Oscar for his role as Lili Elbe in “The Danish Girl” – later expressing regret over accepting the part. To give you some context, Karla Sofía Gascón recently became the first openly trans actor to receive an Academy Award nomination. On the other hand, a number of cisgender actors like Redmayne, Jared Leto and Hilary Swank have previously been nominated for or won Oscars in roles depicting trans characters.

Nevertheless, Park’s role in the drama has been met with some debate, yet since the launch of “Squid Game” Season 2 on Netflix, Hyun-ju has swiftly gained global admiration for her cleverness and courage shown during the series, making her a beloved character among fans worldwide.

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Despite the contentious discussion about Park’s participation, Hyun-ju has earned international acclaim in just one month since “Squid Game” Season 2 premiered on Netflix and ranked as the third most-watched season ever on the platform. Her resourcefulness and bravery throughout the series have made her a fan favorite worldwide.

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Although there’s been some dispute over Park’s participation, Hyun-ju has become popular among fans worldwide in just a month since “Squid Game” Season 2 debuted on Netflix, becoming the third most-watched season ever on the platform. Her resourcefulness and bravery throughout the series have made her a fan favorite.

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Despite the controversy surrounding Park’s role, Hyun-ju has quickly become a global sensation due to her intelligence and courage shown in “Squid Game” Season 2, which was released on Netflix one month ago and is now the platform’s third most-watched season.

All these sentences convey the same meaning, but you can choose the one that sounds the best to you or fits your specific context the closest.

Much of what makes Hyun-ju feel alive on the page can be attributed to the close collaboration between Park and Hwang.

Park stated that he was responsible for suggesting the short bangs for her character. In the scene where she demonstrates the use of the MP5 submachine gun to others, he proposed adding the final ‘Understood’ line because he felt it added to her strength and ferocity. This line, according to him, underscores her background as a former Special Forces soldier.

As the anticipation builds for the third season of “Squid Game,” Park hints that viewers can expect an even greater showcase of Hyun-ju’s allure following the suspenseful Season 2 finale. Regardless of when Season 3 might be released and where his professional journey takes him next, Park remains inundated with messages from enthusiastic fans.

Park shared, ‘I’m overwhelmed because there are so many comments, I can’t get through them all.’ He continued, ‘People thanked me for my portrayal of Hyun-ju, appreciating my loyalty to her character and doing it justice. They also mentioned that they had never seen a trans character like this before, finding it empowering. Reading these remarks, I feel a sense of relief and an immense sense of pride.’

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2025-01-28 02:17