Game 2 Faces Debate Over Trans Character Casting and Actor's Instagram Post

The inclusion of a transgender character played by a cisgender actor in Squid Game's second season has sparked discussion, while actor Park Sung-hoon apologizes for an Instagram mishap.

Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk explained that casting a trans actor for the role of Hyun-ju, a trans woman, was nearly impossible due to the lack of openly trans actors in South Korea and societal marginalization of the LGBTQ community.
Park Sung-hoon, a cisgender actor, has been praised for his portrayal of Hyun-ju, though some critics argue that the role should have gone to a trans actor for authentic representation.
The character Hyun-ju, a former special forces officer, competes in the deadly games to fund her gender-affirming surgery, highlighting issues of debt, discrimination, and resilience faced by transgender individuals.
Park Sung-hoon faced backlash after accidentally sharing an explicit parody image related to Squid Game on Instagram, which he promptly deleted and apologized for through his agency.
The controversy has sparked broader conversations about representation, LGBTQ visibility in South Korean media, and the challenges of balancing inclusivity with societal constraints.