Netflix’s Squid Game faced backlash after the premiere of its second season, with viewers criticizing the decision to cast cisgender male actor Park Sung-hoon as Hyun-ju, a transgender woman contestant. Hyun-ju’s storyline follows her entry into the deadly game to win money for gender-affirming surgery, highlighting the struggles of the trans community in South Korea.

While some hoped the storyline would spotlight the trans community’s challenges in a marginalized society, others argued the casting missed the mark. One viewer posted on X, “Netflix squid games 2 didn’t hit the same bc they hired a straight guy to play this character. Felt forced instead of organic.”

Park Sung-hoon at the global premiere of “Squid Game” season 2 in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 9.

Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk defended the casting, explaining to TV Guide that finding openly trans actors in Korea was “near impossible” due to the community’s marginalization. Netflix stated the series worked with trans and LGBTQ consultants while developing the character, but critics say representation goes beyond consulting.

Hyun-ju, a former Special Forces soldier, serves as both a competitive force and an emotional rock for other contestants. In a pivotal scene, she reveals her struggles since beginning her transition: losing her job, friends, and familial support, with mounting debt preventing her from completing her transition. Park described Hyun-ju as “resilient,” saying she “breaks down stereotypes and shines as an inspiring character.”

John Cho, an assistant professor at the University of British Columbia specializing in gender and queer studies, emphasized the structural inequalities trans individuals face in Korea. “It’s not like you have hundreds of trans actors or actresses representing cisgender characters,” Cho said, calling the casting decision a “slap in the face” for its lack of trans visibility.

Director Hwang Dong-hyuk at the Los Angeles premiere and fan event for Netflix’s “Squid Game” season 2 at Los Angeles City College on Dec. 12.

Cho also highlighted systemic challenges facing South Korea’s LGBTQ community, including pervasive discrimination and traditional gender norms enforced by institutions like the military. He referenced the case of trans soldier Staff Sgt. Byun Hui-su, who died by suicide after her dismissal from the military. She had wanted to transfer to the military’s female corps after undergoing gender-affirming surgery but was deemed “disabled” and unfit for service. Months after her death, the Daejeon District Court ordered the army to recognize her as a woman and annul her dismissal in a posthumous win.

“This controversy is important because it’s starting conversations,” Cho said. “But these conversations need to be much more expanded and complicated so we’re not stuck.”