During an interview on January 8 at a bar in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Park Sung-hoon, who played the role of Hyun-ju, a transgender special forces officer, in the Netflix drama series “Squid Game 2,” stated: “My goal was to show the anxiety behind Hyun-ju’s strength and resolve. Instead of just portraying her tough, determined side, I thought adding a sense of leadership mixed with vulnerability would make her more multidimensional.“
Known for his role as Jeon Jae-joon, a school bully in “The Glory,” Park Sung-hoon captivated viewers around the world with his unexpected portrayal of Hyun-ju in “Squid Game 2.”
The positive reception has largely come from a shift away from the stereotypical and often caricatured portrayal of transgender characters in dramas. Hyun-ju exudes femininity in her appearance and mannerisms while embodying the inner strength and fighting ability of a special forces officer.
Park Sung-hoon worked closely with the production team to perfect Hyun-ju’s look. He said: “Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, the costume and makeup team leader, and I experimented with various hairstyles and makeup. We also tried different nail colors. When I first saw myself in character, I thought I looked like my older sister. He didn’t know I was taking on this role. He praised and supported me after watching the series.”
For the vocals, Park Sung-hoon adapted his tone depending on the situation. He explained: “I used a higher pitch than my usual deep voice, but I set a limit. In moments of extreme urgency, when Hyun-ju’s life was at stake, a stronger masculine tone emerged. It was important to convey the appropriate emotions for each scene, which I discussed thoroughly with the director before shooting.“
The character Hyun-ju was inspired by the late Byun Hui-su, Korea’s first openly transgender soldier, who tragically passed away after being discharged from the army.
“After joining the project, director Hwang told me that he wrote the character with Byun Hui-su in mind. However, I didn’t try to imitate her directly. Instead, I focused on the challenges that Hyun-ju would face throughout his life and incorporated these experiences into the performance.”
Despite controversy for mistakenly uploading an explicit image to SNS, Park Sung-hoon expanded his acting range and gained more affection from audiences through “Squid Game 2.” Her transition from Jeon Jae-joon in “The Glory” to “Sister Hyun-ju” solidified her versatility and popularity.
“Jeon Jae-joon has been a character like a gift to me, so I don’t feel the need to move away from him quickly. People remember it more than my real name, which I find funny. Because I treasure every role I play, I believe Jeon Jae-joon will naturally fade into the background. Now I see a lot of comments calling me ‘Sister Hyun-ju,’ and both characters are equally precious to me.”
