Hwang Dong-hyuk, creator of the global Netflix sensation Squid gamehas responded to criticism over the casting of a cisgender actor to portray a transgender character in the show’s highly anticipated second season.

The controversy centers on Hyun-ju, a new character described as a transgender woman who joins the deadly competition to fund her gender-confirming surgery. In a recent interview with TV guideHwang attributed the decision to cast Park Sung-hoon, a cisgender man, in the role to the significant challenges of finding an openly transgender actor in South Korea.

“When we researched Korea, there were almost no actors who were openly transgender, let alone openly gay,” Hwang said. “Unfortunately, the LGBTQ community is currently still marginalized and neglected in Korean society, which is heartbreaking.”

Hwang shared that he had originally planned to cast a transgender actor, but this proved “almost impossible” given the lack of representation in the South Korean entertainment industry. Despite the criticism, Hwang defended the casting of Park and praised his talent and previous work.

“I have seen his work since his debut and had complete confidence in him,” Hwang explained, adding that Park was the right choice to authentically portray the emotional depth of Hyun-ju’s character.

Park Sung-hoon’s credits include hits like The fame And Queen of Tears. While transgender roles are rare in Korean dramas, this is the case on Netflix Itaewon class broke barriers in 2020 with its portrayal of a transgender character, Ma Hyun-yi, which was widely praised by audiences.

Despite the backlash Squid game Season 2 remains one of Netflix’s most anticipated releases with its exciting narrative and bold storytelling.