Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk is addressing criticism over the shows casting of a cisgender man to play a trans woman in its highly anticipated second season.In an interview with TVGuide.com published on December 17, the writer and director said that while he initially hoped to cast a trans actor for the role, it was near impossible to find an out trans performer in South Korea. Related Netflixs Squid Game cast a cis man to play a trans woman Critics on social media have blasted the series for not giving the role to a transgender actress. Netflixs hit South Korean thriller series sparked controversy earlier this month when the streamer released a Meet the Cast video featuring new cast members introducing fans to their characters. In one clip, South Korean actor Park Sung-hoon confirmed that his character, Hyun-ju, is a former special forces soldier and a transgender woman. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Apart from denying a trans actress a high-profile job, casting a cisgender man to play a trans woman reinforces the insidious, anti-trans perception that trans women are really men. In recent years, actors and advocates like Jen Richards and GLAADs Nick Adams have drawn a direct link between audiences seeing cis men playing trans woman on TV and in films and the epidemic of violence directed at trans women particularly Black trans women.Following the release of the Squid Game cast featurette, critics on social media blasted Parks casting as a transgender woman, with many questioning why the shows creators didnt hire an actual trans actress to play the role.In response, Hwang told TVGuide.com that he did anticipate such discussions to arise from the first moment I began creating the character.In the beginning we were doing our research, and I was thinking of doing an authentic casting of a trans actor, he explained. When we researched in Korea, there are close to no actors that are openly trans, let alone openly gay, because unfortunately in the Korean society currently the LGBTQ community is rather still marginalized and more neglected, which is heartbreaking.South Korea does not recognize same-sex marriage under the law, though earlier this year, the countrys top court ruled that people in same-sex relationships are entitled to the same benefits under South Koreas National Health Insurance Service as heterosexual couples.But as Hwang explained, given the countrys climate for LGBTQ+ people, finding an out trans actress to play Hyun-ju proved a challenge. It was near impossible to find someone who we could cast authentically, he said. And that led us to the decision to cast Sung-hoon.Still, as U.K. outlet the Independent noted earlier this month, simply including a transgender character in a South Korean production like Squid Game is a big deal. Despite the problematic nature of Parks casting, TVGuide.coms Kat Moon suggests that his character could nonetheless move the needle on trans representation in the country.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.