SQUID GAME actor Park Sunghoon shares heartfelt message from transgender fan

Park Sunghoon, the actor who portrayed Hyun-ju in Squid Game Seasons 2 and 3, shared a poignant moment he experienced with a transgender fan at Netflix’s Tudum event.

Speaking to Prestige Hong Kong, Park said, “At a Netflix Tudum event in LA, a transgender actor approached me and said she was a big fan of the Hyun-ju character, adding, ‘I am you, and you are me.’ That’s something I hold very dear to my heart.”

Cho Hyun-ju, also known as Player 120, is a character from the second and third seasons of the hit show. In the series, she is a highly skilled ex-Special Forces soldier who is discharged after coming out as a trans woman, losing both her employment and the support of her family. Hyun-ju enters the Squid Game to win money to support her gender-affirming surgery. Along the way, she forms friendships with several characters, including Kim Young-mi.

When it was first announced that Hyun-ju would be played by a cisgender man, some social media users criticized the decision, arguing that it could reinforce anti-trans stereotypes and that the role should ideally have gone to a trans or cisgender woman. Series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk defended the casting, noting that he wanted to include a transgender character to raise awareness of LGBT issues in South Korea. He also cited the challenges of finding trans female actors in the country due to social stigma.

Park worked closely with transgender individuals to ensure his portrayal was accurate and respectful, avoiding caricature. Following Hyun-ju’s appearance in Squid Game, critics praised the character’s development and Park’s performance, highlighting the sensitive and authentic representation of a trans woman.

Source: Instagram