‘Squid Game’ Actor Reflects on Playing Trans Woman in Season 2

Park Sung-hoon discusses the challenges and reception of portraying Cho Hyun-ju, a transgender character, in the globally successful Netflix series.

Park Sung-hoon, a cisgender actor, expressed initial concerns about taking on the role of Cho Hyun-ju, a trans woman, in 'Squid Game' Season 2.
The show's creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, explained that casting a cisgender actor was due to the lack of openly transgender actors in South Korea's entertainment industry.
Park prepared for the role by consulting transgender individuals to authentically portray Hyun-ju, who is depicted as a former Special Forces soldier with a compelling backstory.
The character has been praised for her strength and complexity, with fans highlighting her as a groundbreaking and empowering representation of a trans woman in mainstream media.
Season 2 of 'Squid Game' has been a major success on Netflix, with Hyun-ju confirmed to have a significant role in the upcoming third season, set to premiere later this year.