What is Park Sung-hoon's Squid Game controversy? Explained in depth

Following the release of Squid Game Season 2, one of its cast members Park Sung-hoon finds himself at the center of a heated controversy. The actor who recently played a complex character in the hit TV series Queen of Tears is seen playing a transgender woman.

This is the first time a transgender has been represented in Squid Game, gaining interest and respect from fans. However, the recent incident involving the actor didn't sit well with many, as South Korea is mourning the loss of lives after the tragic Jeju Air plane crash on Sunday, December 30, 2024.

Park Sung-hoon accidentally uploaded a p*rnographic parody image of Squid Game on his Instagram, resulting in heavy backlash. Though the post was deleted on time, fans had already taken screenshots and began talking about the post as p*rnography is illegal in South Korea.

Continue reading to dive into the controversy and how Park Sung-hoon reacted to the immediate reactions on social media.

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Exploring the Park Sung-hoon's Squid Game controversy

One of the reasons why Squid Game Season 2 is gaining attention is the LGBTQ+ representation, which is quite rare in K-dramas. Actor Park Sung-hoon, who has played multiple roles in acclaimed K-dramas has undeniably left a lasting impression on fans by portraying Hyun-ju, a former special forces soldier and a trans woman.

As seen in season 2, Hyun-ju has risked her life in the deadly competition to fund her gender-affirming surgery. She's among the players who've successfully made it out alive in the rounds featured in season 2.

While Hyun-ju's fate remains uncertain, as nobody knows what will happen to her in season 3, the actor who plays the role has found himself in hot water. Netizens are discussing Park Sung-hoon's Squid Game controversy on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, and calling out the actor.

Also Read: Every death in Squid Game Season 2, ranked from most expected to least

As mentioned, Sung Hoon unintentionally posted a p*rnographic parody cover image of Squid Game after someone sent it on his Instagram DM. Following the critical backlash, the Memorials star issued an apology, explaining that he never meant to hurt his fans and share restricted content.

Per Korea JoongAng Daily, the South Korean actor's agency BH Entertainment shared:

"Actor Park accidentally posted the image, which he received in a direct message, by mistakenly pressing the wrong button. The actor himself was also very shocked [at what happened]."

The statement continues:

"He is deeply sorry for making such a mistake in these circumstances and promises to be especially careful to ensure it doesn’t happen again."

The agency explained that Park Sung-hoon has been receiving an overwhelming number of direct messages following the release of Squid Game Season 2, and while opening them, the explicit image got shared. However, the actor has now shared his heartfelt apology.

Also Read: Why does Gi-hun go back to the Squid Game in Season 2? Character's motivations, explored in depth

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Why a transgender woman wasn't cast for Hyun-ju in Squid Game Season 2

Casting a transgender in a K-drama can be challenging as there are very few openly transgender actors and LGBTQ+ individuals in the country. Squid Game director Hwang Dong-hyuk also opened up about this challenge and revealed how Park Sung-hoon was finalized to play Hyun-ju.

During his interview with TV Guide, Dong-hyuk mentioned that he planned to cast a trans to play Hyun-ju for an authentic portrayal, but the societal climate in South Korea made it nearly impossible. He said:

"It was near impossible to find someone who we could cast authentically. And that led us to the decision to cast Sung-hoon."

He added:

"I have watched his work ever since his debut, and I had complete trust in him that he would be the right person in terms of talent in portraying this character."

The LGBTQ+ community still faces discrimination and backlash in Korea, making it challenging for them to publicly embrace their identities. This is also seen in season 2 episode 3 "001" when Player 007's old mother who's also a participant says "Good grief, that's unsightly" after learning about Hyun-ju's choice.

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