Park Sung Hoon wins over critics with powerful performance as transgender character in Squid Game 2

Controversy surrounds Netflix’s new release of the second season of ‘Squid Game’ a few days ago. The main issue before the release was the casting of Hyun Ju as a transgender woman competing to pay for her gender-affirming surgery in the deadly games. He is popular for the series ‘The Glory’, ‘Queen of Tears’. The fans were criticizing him for not portraying an authentic transgender character.

Since the premiere of the season, there have been quite many positive reactions to Park’s acting. Many of his fans took over social media showering all kinds of praise upon him for his portrayal of Hyun Ju. Many people admired his sensitivity and depth in his role. One fan posted, “Here’s an appreciation tweet for Park Sung Hoon for playing this role so gracefully and standing out as the bravest and the best. My girl, you are so loved.” Another one said, “Player 120 is my favorite in ‘Squid Game 2’. They’ve actually created a good background & character development for her, and Park Sung Hoon portrayed her effectively, as expected.”

Many viewers pointed out how Hyun Ju’s character, initially judged by others in the game, ultimately became one of the most compelling figures of the season. “Player 120 is the only character I rooted for. She actually helped her team win a game and assisted in executing their plan at the end. She was judged at first, but she was quite the game-changer,” says one fan. Others talk about how much they have been touched by the whole character journey and how Park Sung Hoon made Hyun Ju’s story unforgettable. Not only the performance of Park Sung Hoon, but people also appreciate the tight storyline and deep character development.

Director Hwang Dong Hyuk spoke about the casting decision with TV Guide while explaining the possible reactions to it. He explained, “In the beginning we were doing our research, and I was thinking of doing an authentic casting of a trans actor. […] When we researched in Korea, there are close to no actors that are openly trans, let alone openly gay, because unfortunately in Korean society currently the LGBTQ community is rather still marginalized and more neglected, which is heartbreaking.” All this aside, Hwang Dong Hyuk was still confident in his decision of choosing Park because he felt that the talent in his character was enough to qualify him for the role. His words reflect a sense of commitment to telling an authentic and meaningful story in a society that presents challenges to doing so.

Courtesy : TOI

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