Park Sung Hoon wins over critics with his impressive performance as a transgender character in Squid Game 2

A few days ago, there was controversy surrounding the re-release of the second season of “Squid Game” on Netflix. The main topic before the release was the casting of Hyun Ju as a transgender woman competing in the deadly games to fund her gender-affirming surgery. He is known for the series “The Glory”, “Queen of Tears”. Fans criticized him for not portraying an authentic character Transgender character.
Since the season premiere, there have been many positive reactions to Park’s acting. Many of his fans showered him with all sorts of praise on social media for his portrayal of Hyun Ju. Many people admired his sensitivity and depth in his role. One fan wrote, “Here is a thank you tweet for Park Sung Hoon who played this role so gracefully and stood out as the bravest and best. My girl you are so loved.” Another said: “Player 120 is my favorite in”Squid game 2‘. They actually created a good background and character development for her, and Park Sung Hoon portrayed her effectively as expected.
Many viewers pointed out how Hyun Ju’s character, who was initially judged by others in the game, ended up becoming one of the most compelling characters of the season. “Player 120 is the only character I liked. She actually helped her team win a game and helped execute their plan at the end. She was judged at first, but she changed the game quite a bit,” says one fan. Others talk about how touched they were by the entire character journey and how Park Sung Hoon made Hyun Ju’s story unforgettable. Not only Park Sung Hoon’s performance, but also the tight plot and deep character development make people appreciate it.
Director Hwang Dong Hyuk spoke to TV Guide about the casting decision and explained the possible reactions to it. He explained: “Initially we did research and I thought about making one authentic casting of a trans actor. (…) When we researched Korea, there were almost no actors who were openly transsexual, let alone openly gay, because unfortunately the LGBTQ community is currently rather marginalized and neglected in Korean society, which is heartbreaking.” All That aside, Hwang Dong Hyuk was still confident in choosing Park because he felt his character’s talent was enough to qualify him for the role. His words reflect a commitment to telling an authentic and meaningful story in a society that presents challenges in doing so.