“Squid Game 2,” released on the 26th, follows Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) as he seeks revenge and returns to the game, where he faces Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) in a new series of challenges. After the success of the first season, the production team decided to film the second and third seasons together and the series returned after three years.
However, from the moment the casting was revealed, concerns arose. Although famous actors such as Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Im Si-wan, Wi Ha-jun, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-wook, Park Seong-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-shim, Lee Seo-hwan and Jo Yu-ri were announced, the issue was “gender balance”. When Netflix first revealed the Squid Game season 2 lineup last June, there was no mention of female characters. This unleashed a wave of disappointment, especially since fans around the world had high expectations following the international popularity of the first season’s female star, Jung Ho-yeon. Netflix later responded by adding Park Gyu-young, Jo Yu-ri, and Kang Ae-shim to the cast, increasing the number of female characters.
However, the actual portrayal of female characters in season two fell short, with many of them reduced to one-dimensional roles. Most of the female characters revolve around the theme of “motherhood”. For example, Kang No-eul (Park Gyu-young) is a mother searching for her lost family, while Jang Geum-ja (Kang Ae-shim) enters the game to pay off her son’s debt. Kim Jun-hee (Jo Yu-ri), will soon become a mother due to an unplanned pregnancy.
Additionally, none of the women stand out in the games. Kang Mi-na (Song Ji-woo) is the first to be eliminated, depicted as a naive woman obsessed with outward appearances. Kim Young-mi (Kim Si-eun), a frightened character, is abandoned by her group and dies miserably, while the “strong woman” character, Sem-i (Won Ji-an), is killed by her teammate due to his dominant personality.
Although Yong-gung’s character Seon-nyeo (Chae Guk-hee) plays a religious role, she does not actively participate in the game. The only female character who is somewhat developed is Jo Hyun-ju (played by Park Seong-hoon), who helps the injured participants and displays exceptional marksmanship during the rebellion. However, the character’s identity as a transgender woman complicates the portrayal of a “strong female character”.
Overall, the second season of “Squid Game” has been criticized for its superficial portrayal of female characters, calling into question the direction the series should take. With season three releasing next year, fans are eager to see if the show will move beyond basic gender representations and provide more depth to its female characters.
