The second season of Netflix’s global phenomenon “Squid Game” has reignited conversations about representation and inclusivity in the entertainment industry. At the center of the debate is the casting of Park Sung-hoon, a cisgender male actor, to portray Hyun-ju, a transgender woman in the high-stakes survival drama. While the storyline offers a glimpse into the struggles of transgender individuals in South Korea, including societal rejection and financial hardships associated with gender-affirming care, the decision not to cast a transgender actor has drawn significant criticism.
Hyun-ju’s character carries emotional depth and highlights the challenges of navigating societal prejudice and economic vulnerability. In a poignant scene, Hyun-ju speaks candidly about her gender transition and the hardships that followed — estrangement from family, unemployment, and mounting debt. Her motivation to win the deadly competition stems from a dream of completing her transition and starting anew in a more accepting environment. Yet, despite the powerful narrative, critics argue that casting a cisgender man in the role undermines the authenticity of the portrayal.
The show’s creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, addressed the controversy by explaining the difficulty of finding openly transgender actors in South Korea, where LGBTQ visibility remains limited due to systemic societal barriers. While the production consulted LGBTQ advocates during the show’s development, representation goes beyond consultation — it requires visibility. Activists and viewers alike emphasize that casting trans actors in trans roles is not merely about skill but about breaking cycles of invisibility and offering authentic representation in one of the few high-profile trans storylines in Korean media.
This debate reflects deeper systemic issues in South Korea, where the LGBTQ community faces intense societal discrimination. Incidents like the tragic death of Staff Sgt. Byun Hui-su, a trans soldier dismissed from the military after her gender-affirming surgery, exemplify the entrenched prejudices transgender individuals encounter. Representation in mainstream media, especially in globally acclaimed shows like “Squid Game,” has the potential to challenge these biases and foster cultural change.
While Hyun-ju’s storyline undoubtedly sheds light on important issues, the controversy surrounding her casting underscores the broader need for structural changes in the entertainment industry — changes that prioritize authentic representation and elevate marginalized voices.