[This story contains major spoilers from the final season of Squid Game.]

The casting of South Korean actor Park Sung-hoon in season two of Netflix's wildly popular series, Squid Game, ignited considerable debate among fans and critics alike. Park took on the role of Hyun-ju, better known as “Player 120,” in the high-stakes deadly Games orchestrated by the show's creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk. This casting decision was met with backlash primarily because Hyun-ju is depicted as a transgender woman seeking to participate in the Games for the purpose of financing her gender-affirming surgery, while Park is a cisgender male.

Responding to the controversy, Hwang addressed the difficulties in finding an openly transgender actor in South Korea to fill this role. “From the moment I began creating the character Hyun-ju, I could foresee that discussions and debates would arise,” Hwang stated. He elaborated on the scarcity of openly LGBTQ+ actors in South Korea, lamenting the marginalization of the LGBTQ community in society. “It’s heartbreaking,” he added, emphasizing the challenges that exist within the industry.

Park, too, anticipated discussions around his casting and addressed these concerns in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, especially after the third and final season of Squid Game was released on June 27. The series broke records, garnering 106.3 million views within the first ten days of its debut on Netflix. Following the show’s conclusion, opinions shifted, with Hyun-ju emerging as a fan favorite. The character developed significantly throughout her two-season arc and ultimately became a heroic figure, sacrificing her life while trying to save her friends, including Jun-hee (played by Jo Yu-ri), who gave birth during a deadly Hide and Seek game. Tragically, Hyun-ju was fatally stabbed by Lee Myung-gi (Yim Si-wan), the baby’s father.

In reflecting on his role, Park openly addressed the casting concerns and shared his hopes for improved global representation of transgender characters, stating, “I had a thorough understanding of what I was getting into.”

Park recounted his initial feelings upon being cast as a trans woman. He described it as a significant challenge, yet he pondered the appropriateness of a cisgender actor portraying such a character. “I had my worries, but I was determined to portray her authentically, avoiding any stereotypes,” he remarked. “Hyun-ju is a character with depth, and I aimed to bring out her inner qualities and redeeming traits.”

Park also discussed his research process for the role, revealing that he engaged with numerous transgender individuals to gain insight into their experiences. He was motivated to break away from the often one-dimensional portrayal of transgender characters common in Korean media. “Hyun-ju is not just another stereotype. She’s layered, selfless, and charismatic—qualities I wanted to highlight in my portrayal,” he explained.

Having received the full arc of his character before filming seasons two and three back-to-back, Park was aware of Hyun-ju’s fate. He described her decision to sacrifice herself for her friends as a powerful act of love. “Her final moments reveal her true nature—a heart made of gold,” he reflected. “Even if she suspected she might die, she would still choose to protect her friends.”

When it came to filming her climactic scene, Park found himself overcome with emotion. Hwang suggested he shed a single tear before collapsing after being stabbed, a direction Park executed flawlessly in one take. “It was a very emotional day on set,” he recalled. “Even after the scene wrapped, I needed time to let those feelings go.”

Looking ahead, Park expressed optimism that Hyun-ju's portrayal would pave the way for more complex LGBTQ+ characters in global television. He noted, “For too long, transgender characters in Korean media have been flat and stereotypical. Hyun-ju opens doors for more nuanced representations.” He also shared that through this role, he has been able to showcase a different facet of his acting skills, moving away from his previous portrayals of villains.

The final season of Squid Game is now available for streaming on Netflix. For further insights, check out THR's coverage on the finale, including an analysis of notable cameos that could lead to a potential spinoff, and an in-depth interview with Hwang Dong-hyuk discussing the season's concluding moments.