Hwang Dong-hyuk explains why he did not cast a real-life transgender actor for the role of Player 120, or Cho Hyun-ju, the trans character in Squid Game.

Squid Game is back and more terrifying than the last installment, and although fans loved the thrill and gore, there’s one aspect that received so much criticism: the casting for a transgender character. Player 120, whose real name is Cho Hyun-ju, was a former special forces soldier who lost her job after coming out as a trans.

Park Sung-hoon in Squid Game / Credits: Netflix

With no support from family and friends, she was forced to finance her own surgery, and entering the dangerous game seemed like a good opportunity for her to earn much-needed money to pay off her debts. The problem was that the character was not portrayed by a real-life trans actor.

Squid Game creator explains transgender character Hyun-ju’s casting

The movie and television industry has evolved through the years, and we’re seeing more diversity and representation of marginalized sectors, especially the LGBTQ community. After the success of the first Squid Game installment, series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk knew there was a demand for a sequel.

The initial project took more than a decade to become a reality as it faced financial struggles, but Hwang managed to get it off the ground in 2021. With his creative writing genius, he made a follow-up story that featured a trans character. He said he’s aware of the controversy that would arise when he was still creating the character of Hyun-ju.

Park Sung-hoon in Squid Game / Credits: Netflix

While speaking with TV Guide, he explained why he did not cast a trans actor for the part. As much as he wanted to maintain the authenticity, there was a huge obstacle that he could not remove.

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 rather still marginalized and more neglected, which is heartbreaking.

This is quite true, as many Western countries have become more open to the queer population. Several Asian countries, including South Korea, remain conservative in terms of acknowledging LGBTQ rights.

Hwang said that it was impossible on their end to find a fitting actor for the position, so they decided to give the role to Park Sung-hoon, who is recognized for his work on The Glory and Queen of Tears. On the bright side, the actor did a splendid performance, as Hyun-ju easily became a fan-favorite among viewers.

Is Squid Game’s Hyun-ju based on a real person?

The series creator has yet to confirm if he was inspired by a real-life story for the role of Hyun-ju, although it seems the character’s story is very much similar to Byun Hui-su, the first known transgender soldier in South Korea.

Byun went to Thailand to undergo surgery in 2019, but was later on dismissed from the military and denied reinstatement in 2020 after they classified her loss of male genitalia as “mental or physical handicap.” In 2021, Byun was found dead in her home and authorities reported the incident as s**cide.

Squid Game is currently available to watch on Netflix.