How to interpret a trans character… In Korea?
It's almost mission: impossible, explains today Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator of the best Netflix series: Squid Game, naturally. The Korean series that has become a global cultural phenomenon, back for a second season, presents a dystopian vision of society, in the form of particularly devious collective games that undermine its participants.
But the reality is hardly more idyllic.
For what ? Because if this second season, still as astonishing, has the merit of daring to feature a transgender character, entitled Hyun-ju, the latter is not at all played by a trans actor on screen. No, it’s a so-called “cisgender” actor, Park Sung-hoon, who plays him.
And for a reason that is as clear as it is dramatic…
The creator of Squid Game puts his finger on the homophobia and transphobia of an entire country: “It’s heartbreaking!”
Why doesn't Squid Game include real trans actors in its cast?
It's simple: the people concerned are discriminated against and stigmatized in Korea. They have no right of citizenship, and for obvious reasons, do not dare to express themselves. This is what showrunner Hwang Dong-hyuk, director and screenwriter, deplores in an interview: “At first, I thought I would cast a transgender actor. But when we did our research in Korea, there was almost no no openly trans actorsand even less openly gay…“
“…because, unfortunately, in today's Korean society, the LGBTQ community is still rather marginalized and neglected, which is heartbreaking… Today, unfortunately, in Korean society, gender minorities are a group that does not is not as widely accepted“.
Homophobia, transphobia… It's difficult not to read between the lines the violence suggested by the director and screenwriter, very aware of the societal issues of his country – Squid Game obviously deploying a quantity of rather incisive speeches towards all forms of oppression according to its episodes.
Korea is not unique regarding this discrimination unfortunately. We also recommend our detailed article, following the mention of a possible coronation of the film Emilia Perez at the Oscars (a hybrid musical comedy which will represent France), on the wave of anti-trans hatred which covers the United States. United. A worrying situation which worsens year after year. And in France too, the stigmatization persists against these marginalized people: you just have to attend to these kinds of remarks…
