In both Squid Game seasons two and three, transgender woman Cho Hyun-ju was played by actor Park Sung-hoon despite him being cisgendered. Though the casting decision did draw criticism initially, director Hwang Dong-hyuk later detailed why casting a real trans woman was difficult in the cultural context of South Korea.
“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 rather marginalised and more neglected, which is heartbreaking,” he said.
The reception to Hyun-ju has been pretty stellar, and ignoring her heartbreaking death in season three, people have applauded the strong representation for a community often overlooked within the confines of a big Netflix series. Still, stepping into the shoes of a trans woman is no easy task, and Hyun-ju’s actor Park Sung-hoon knew that going into the project.
Credit: Netflix
Sung-hoon didn’t want Hyun-ju to become a ‘caricature’ in Squid Game
In an interview with the Press Trust of India before the release of Squid Game season three, Park Sung-hoon explained his process of stepping into the role of Hyun-ju.
“I wanted to avoid caricature and I didn’t want to imitate any mannerisms or cliches… I really focused on the qualities that she has. She’s a very selfless person, she’s charismatic, has leadership, and is very brave,” he explained.
“Because she’s such a cool character, I thought her being a transgender woman was just one of the qualities that she has. If I am empathetic of her when I’m portraying her, I just hope that the viewers will warm up to her. Like Jang Geum-ja (Kang Ae-shim), the old lady, warmed up to Hyun-ju in Squid Game.”
In another interview with Elle India, Sung-hoon opened up further on his creative process and how he was able to create Hyun-ji as the powerful, humorous, and loving character we adored throughout both seasons.
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“I had a lot of concerns,” he explained. “I was worried people might be uncomfortable, or that I might get it wrong. So I never treated the role lightly. I focused on Hyun-ju’s personality, her justice, her humour, and her leadership. And I paid close attention to the situations she was in.”
Much like how Geum-ja grew to better understand Hyun-Ju the more she got to know her, Sung-hoon hoped that anyone watching Squid Game with “bias” would leave with “empathy.”
“Maybe Hyun-ju wasn’t as strong outside the game, but inside, she forms a strong bond with some of the contestants,” he added. “That connection makes her want to protect them, and that’s what brings out her resilience. However, she’s also vulnerable; her greatest weakness is her intense care. She’s a deeply selfless person. I just wanted to honour how strong that makes her.”
All in all, Park Sung-hoon hopes that his portrayal of Hyun-ju in Squid Game gives way to more opportunities for transgender actors in South Korea.
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Featured image credit: Netflix/Park Sung-hoon
