Squid Game creator responds to backlash over cis actor playing trans role
Squid Game character Player 120 has been hailed as the ‘best character’ by viewers. (Netflix)
Squid Game character Player 120 has been hailed as the 'best character' by viewers. (Netflix)
Netflix’s Squid Game is the show everyone is watching but many people are asking why a cis male actor is playing Player 120, a trans character.
The show’s creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, has defended the decision. He said there were “misunderstandings” about the decision, and “there are really not many transgender [people] who have come out”.
The series revolves around a secret contest in which 456 players, all in deep financial hardship, risk their lives in deadly children’s games for the chance to win a life-changing cash prize.
The third and final season will chronicle Player 456’s struggle with the fallout of the brutal games. Meanwhile, mysterious characters on the sidelines are determined to expose the truth behind the deadly competition.
In seasons two and three, Korean actor Park Sung-hoon played trans woman Cho Hyun-ju, Player 120. The character is a former special forces soldier hoping to take home the prize money to complete her gender-affirming surgery, and has quickly become a fan-favourite.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly ahead of the third season, Hwang said: “I do understand that there [have] been some concerns from the Western world, from the US. But in the case of Korea, we didn’t have as many concerns because of the Eastern or Asian culture.
‘It was quite a sensitive issue and I understand the concerns’
“In Korea, there are really not many transgender [people] who have come out and are actors, and there [are] just a couple of gay [actors] who have come out publicly, so it was physically difficult to find a transgender actor who could really play the role. It was, realistically speaking, nearly impossible.”
Hwang went on to say that he didn’t see much “feedback or criticism in the Eastern world” about the casting but added: “I know that it was quite a sensitive issue and I understand that there [have] been concerns. I looked through some reactions by US [fans] and I came across a YouTuber [who is] transgender.
“She said that in the beginning, she wasn’t sure why a straight man had to play the role of Hyun-ju. But then, as she progressed, she was actually touched by the character played by Park Sung-hoon, who is a straight man, she was moved by how beautiful and how genuine this character portrayal was. It moved her to tears.
“I was quite relieved by those reactions.”
‘I will try my best to do authentic casting’
He added that his perspective on the casting process has been changed because of the response to Player 120 “Going forward, I will try my best to do authentic casting for not just transgender [people] but other sexual minorities as well.
“And I hope we could move toward that kind of society. But in the case of East Asian culture, like Japan or China or Korea, it’s really difficult to do that kind of authentic casting.
“I hope that going forward we have a more open and inclusive and embracing society that enables that.”
Park has also addressed the controversy, telling told Korea JoongAng Daily that he “never wanted to overdo the voice or exaggerate my gestures, and the director fully agreed with me on that. He went on to say: “Since my natural voice is quite deep, I felt altering it too much would undermine the emotional authenticity.”
The final season of Squid Game is due to drop on Netflix on Friday (27 June).
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