Season 2 of Netflix’s Squid Game introduces the series’ first transgender character

Spoilers for Season 2 of “Squid Game” follow.

One of the things that makes the hit Netflix series Squid Game so appealing is the wide range of individuals who decide to get involved in the games. It’s a clever way to show that the real villain – rampant capitalism on its last legs – affects almost everyone who isn’t filthy rich. As far-fetched as it may seem, many of us are one bad decision, accident, or illness away from seeing something like the “Squid Game” as the only way out. It’s scary stuff, and having characters representing all different walks of life really brings that point home because the audience can relate to it. It also helps us sympathize with characters who are experiencing something unique to us; I’ve grown to hope Much love to Player 067’s first season, Kang Sae Byuk (Hoyeon Jung), and it’s hard to imagine the first season without her.

The third episode of Season 2 brought in another character that will appeal to some audiences while presenting a foreign concept to others: Player 120, Hyun Joo (Park Sung Hoon), a transgender woman. Some (ignorant and bigoted) fans who completely miss the point of “Squid Game” may see this as trying to force a positive portrayal of trans people, much like the recent backlash with “Star Wars” fans are talking about a clone trooperbut trans people exist and deserve to be portrayed on screen just as much as any of the rest of us. However, there is one problem: Park is a trans man playing a trans woman. Let’s take a closer look at this character who is almost certain to be controversial both in the show’s home country of South Korea and here in the United States.

In promotional video For the second season, Park Hyun Joo is described as a “former special forces soldier and transgender woman” who “joins the game because she is short of money to undergo gender confirmation surgery.” She was kicked out of the army when she started transitioning, and unfortunately, her family and friends completely shunned her. While some LGBTQ identities are protected classes in South Korea and there was a huge Supreme Court case that ruled in favor of allowing a transgender woman with young children to be allowed to legally change their gender in 2022, transgender people still face severe discrimination. So it makes some sense that Hyun Joo would face the horrors of the Squid Game in order to start a new life because the life she lived in South Korea was no life at all.

Park goes on to describe Hyun Joo very positively, highlighting her determination:

“Even though she faces prejudice and difficult situations, she shows incredible strength, decisiveness and natural leadership. Through her resilience, she breaks stereotypes and shines as an inspiring figure.”

At first, some players, like player 149, Geum-ja (Kang I-sim), are confused about playing alongside a trans woman, but eventually they realize that she’s just like any of them. It’s great that Geum-ja eventually becomes friends with Hyun-ju and that Hyun-ju becomes somewhat heroic, but it’s still frustrating for her to be portrayed by a cisgender man. Netflix has done some great things to help the trans community this year, like streaming lively shows, The documentary “Will and Harper” is worth watching And even Very disappointed, Emilia Perez. At least the trans stars Carla Sofía Gascón in the lead. So why couldn’t they cast a trans actor for Season 2 of “Squid Game”? Well, according to the show’s creator, there’s a specific reason.

According to Squid Game creator and director Hwang Dong-hyuk, finding a trans Korean actor for the role has proven difficult, if not impossible. Talk to TV guide“It’s almost impossible to find someone we can portray authentically,” Hwang said, adding:

“Initially we were doing our research, and I was thinking about doing an actual casting for a transgender actor. When we looked in Korea, there were almost no openly transgender actors, let alone openly gay ones, because unfortunately in Korea, there weren’t any An openly transgender actor currently in Korean society, the LGBTQ community, is still more marginalized and neglected, which is heartbreaking.”

in A very important documentary “Disclosure” Actress, writer, and producer Jane Richards explains why it’s important to have trans women in trans roles:

“In my opinion, part of the reason why men end up killing trans women out of fear that other men will think they’re gay because they’ve been with trans women, is because their friends, the men who fear their judgment, only know about trans women from the media and people The ones playing trans women are the men they know. This doesn’t happen when a trans woman plays a trans woman; Laverne Cox is just as beautiful and charming as she appears on screen. Seeing these women off screen are still women, it’s It completely deflates the idea that they are somehow convincing men.

Richards is absolutely right, but the physical safety of a trans actress in South Korea also needs to be taken into consideration because this is still a South Korean production despite its international popularity. It’s also a sign that there is still a lot that can be done to get better, more authentic representation. We need transgender stories on our screens now more than ever. If you want to see something on Netflix about a real trans woman, it will make you laugh and Crying, just go watch “Will and Harper.” Everyone needs to.

Season 2 of “Squid Game” is now streaming on Netflix.