‚Squid Game‘ Season 2 sparks debate on casting for transgender roles

Hyun-ju (performed by Park Sung-hoon), middle, a transgender character dealing with societal prejudice in Netflix’s „Squid Recreation“ Season 2 / Courtesy of Netflix

Netflix’s „Squid Recreation“ Season 2 has sparked international discussions on transgender illustration by way of the character of Cho Hyun-ju, a transgender lady portrayed by actor Park Sung-hoon.

The casting confronted little backlash in South Korea, the place actors usually play transgender roles, however drew destructive reactions in international locations like the USA and Thailand, the place there’s a rising expectation for transgender characters to be portrayed by transgender actors.

This highlights cultural variations, as South Korea’s conservative setting affords few alternatives for overtly transgender figures, in contrast to Thailand and the Philippines, which have a stronger historical past of integrating transgender people into mainstream media.

Within the newest season of „Squid Recreation,“ Hyun-ju, a former particular forces soldier, joins the lethal competitors as a technique to overcome societal prejudice and lift cash for gender affirmation surgical procedure.

In contrast to earlier depictions in Korean dramas, which regularly relied on caricatures or exaggerated portrayals of cross-dressing, Hyun-ju’s character is portrayed with subtlety, her bob haircut serving as a easy but significant nod to her gender identification.

Her power and decisiveness stand out, making her one of many season’s most memorable characters. Park’s efficiency has earned reward domestically for providing a recent perspective on portraying transgender girls in Korean media.

Worldwide criticism, cultural context

Whereas Hyun-ju’s portrayal has been well-received in Korea, some worldwide audiences have expressed discomfort with casting a cisgender male actor for the function.

In international locations like Japan, Thailand and the Philippines — the place transgender illustration within the leisure business is extra normalized — the choice confronted criticism. South Korea, nonetheless, stays conservative on such points, with few overtly transgender public figures.

John Cho, a queer research knowledgeable on the College of British Columbia, criticized the casting, saying, „This may be seen as an act of disrespect towards racial and sexual minorities.“

Responding to the criticism, director Hwang Dong-hyuk acknowledged in interviews that the selection would possibly provoke destructive reactions.

„Initially, we thought-about casting an actual transgender actor,“ he stated. „Nevertheless, the method proved difficult. In Korea, we discovered only a few overtly transgender or homosexual actors, which displays the marginalization of the LGBTQ group in Korean society.“

Park Sung-hoon performs Hyun-ju, often known as Participant 120, in „Squid Recreation“ Season 2. Courtesy of Netflix

Nuanced character, not stereotype

Hwang ensured Hyun-ju’s portrayal prevented stereotypes or reductive narratives. Her backstory as a former particular forces soldier navigating prejudice whereas making an attempt to construct a greater life is revealed over a number of episodes.

In a single key scene, Hyun-ju asks the opposite contestants to look away throughout a standard Korean recreation as a result of she hasn’t but accomplished all of her surgical procedures — a second that highlights her vulnerability with out making her an object of ridicule.

This method displays classes discovered from critiques of „Squid Recreation“ Season 1, the place the portrayal of overseas employee Ali Abdul was criticized as stereotypical. With Hyun-ju, the manufacturing aimed to create a extra layered and genuine character.

Hwang defined that Hyun-ju’s transgender identification was deliberately dealt with with restraint, specializing in her as a person quite than a token character. Her function as a competitor within the brutal recreation emphasised her humanity and resilience, avoiding sensationalism.

The portrayal has earned admiration from worldwide viewers as effectively. Feedback on YouTube described her as „one of the crucial intriguing characters to date,“ with others noting, „Though Park Sung-hoon isn’t transgender, the character was fantastically written and delivered to life.“

One other stated, „It’s refreshing to see an Asian present addressing transgender points higher than most Western reveals. Hyun-ju’s identification is important however doesn’t outline her totally. The depiction was respectful whereas highlighting the struggles transgender individuals face.“

Hyun-ju, a transgender former particular forces soldier, portrayed by actor Park Sung-hoon in „Squid Recreation“ Season 2 / Courtesy of Netflix

This text from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Instances, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Instances.