Squid Game 2 introduces first trans character as director highlights importance of representation

"Squid Game 2" will introduce its first trans character, Hyun-ju, also known as Player 120. She aims to earn money for gender-affirming surgery and is portrayed as a strong leader with a military background. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk emphasized the importance of representing marginalized groups, including gender minorities, in the series. He noted that acceptance of trans individuals in South Korea is improving but still faces challenges. Hyun-ju is played by cis male actor Park Sung-hoon due to a lack of openly trans actors in Korea. Hwang acknowledged the difficulty in casting authentically but expressed confidence in Park's ability to portray the character. "Squid Game 2" premieres on Netflix on December 26.