‘Squid Game’ STAR Park Sung-hoon talks about transgender role, fan theories and season 3 teaser
“Hello, nice to meet you,” greeted Park Sung-hoon, the South Korean actor who recently gained international fame for his role in the hit series “Squid Game” Season 2. What a sweetheart! He is not only a talented actor but also known for his warmth, kindness, and approachability off-screen.
Netflix Philippines gave yours truly the opportunity to deep dive into a conversation post-“Squid Game” Season 2 fame with one of the season’s well-loved characters.
“I feel so grateful and proud to receive so much more love than I expected,” he told everyone.
As the show continues to leave an impact on global audiences, Sung-hoon’s personality and professionalism have made him a fan favorite both on- and off-screen. His rise to stardom has been nothing short of impressive, and it’s not just his acting that has people talking; it’s the way he treats those around him that makes him truly stand out, just like his character, the much-talked-about trans woman in the series named Cho Hyun-ju. The latter is a highly skilled and highly trained ex-Special Forces soldier who was outcast in the military after wanting to transition.
Even if his character is controversial, like her, he has a heart of gold.
“Hyun-ju is a character, unlike other players in the game, she’s someone who’s really selfless, she’s righteous, she’s fierce and strong,” said the actor.
“And so going into it, I had expected that she was going to be a well-loved character and people were going to be very interested in her, but not to this extent. It’s really, the response has been beyond anything that I had expected, so I’m very grateful.”
Just halfway through the conversation, I forgot that he is the evil guy in the hit Kdrama “The Glory” and the delulu guy from the groundbreaking 2024 hit “Queen of Tears.”
The actor kept on smiling and was always so accommodating with follow-up questions. We also asked how he could relate to Hyun-ju.
“I would have to say the way she treats others and those around her within the game, especially. In the show, she comes across a wide variety of different people and different characters, and the way she interacts with all of them, I feel like (it) really exposes her warm nature in her attitude towards them,” he shared.
It was a controversial topic in Korea when a cisgender actor like him took the part, but Sung-hoon explained that it had to be done to make.
“Well, in Season 1, Ali was a character that represented yet another important minority group in the Korean society, and Hyun-ju is the one who does that in the second season.”
Speaking of characters, one of the biggest fan theories is if his character, Player 120, and Player 246 are an item? There have been numerous edits online about it and it has been blowing up on the Internet.
Sung-hoon became playful in saying that it is also his favorite fan theory. “I think I would have to say my favorite is, like you said, people are shipping Gyeonh-seok and Hyun-ju. I remember this particular day when we were on set, and there was a scene where Jin-wook (Player 246) was standing behind me. After the director yelled cut, I turned around to talk to him. But I remember in that moment thinking, ‘Oh my god, he’s so good-looking.’”
He added, “Very handsome,” to which we nodded with full approval.
Another thing Sung-hoon revealed was how close the cast became after filming the series. “Even after production has wrapped, we continue to keep in touch. We would get together to grab a meal or share drinks together. And when Ae-shim, who played Geum-ja, and I, when we were in a play, our cast members would come and root for us. And so, it’s just a wonderful friendship that’s been continuing on.”
Since the launch of “Squid Game” season two last Dec. 26, the “Squid Game” fans algorithm has been dominated by Sung-hoon. We posted a snippet video of him during the world premiere meet-and-greet we had with the cast, saying that he is one of our favorite players. That video now has garnered two million views and counting of how much the Internet agrees.
As Sung-hoon’s career continues to rise, there’s no doubt that he will keep making waves in the entertainment industry. His dedication to his craft, combined with his considerate nature and ability to connect with people, will ensure that he remains a beloved figure both in South Korea and internationally. Fans can look forward to seeing more of him in future projects, whether in dramas, films, or variety shows.
We were curious to find out what’s next for him, and he said that his doors are wide open at the moment.
“Nothing that’s been made concrete yet, or nothing in particular that’s really sinking in with me yet. But I am open to working on any global project, if given the opportunity, I would love to,” said Sung-hoon, who gave us a teasing reaction of what’s to come this third season which fans are eagerly waiting.
His short and sweet answer was, “There are going to be more various and also more intriguing, entertaining games and different events that are waiting.”
Catch “Squid Game 3” soon on Netflix.
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