this post was submitted on 20 Jun 2025
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[–] _cryptagion@lemmy.dbzer0.com 33 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

In Korea, there are really not many transgender [people] who have come out and are actors, and there's just a couple of gay [actors] who have come out publicly

There's literally only three transfem Korean celebrities who also act. That is a very small pool to be picking from.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 23 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Fuck me lemmy buried me for stating this obvious truth when the story first came out.

Cast someone who is all of the below:

  • South Korean
  • Trans
  • MTF
  • Out of the closet
  • Can act worth a shit
[–] Zorque@lemmy.world 11 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

And fits the role.

Just cause someone is trans doesn't mean they fit every trans role. That implies that that's the only aspect of their personality worth anything, which is a hideous thing to imply.

[–] Tuxman@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 weeks ago

“We need 60 Peter Dinklage clones for this next Wily Wonka instalment”

[–] Oka@sopuli.xyz 26 points 3 weeks ago

Sung-Hoon played the part well. Perhaps they were the best and most fitting applicant for the part at the time of casting. Unless the director states "I specifically picked a cis actor over a trans actor because they were cis" then im not sure I understand the frustration.

[–] Lyra_Lycan@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 3 weeks ago

Dear complainants: Where the everloving fuck is Squid Game's producers going to find an openly trans Korean actor? It is highly improbable.

[–] Semjaza@lemmynsfw.com 5 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

What a non-story... Which media organisations are running it?

Because this article even includes bits like:

"In Korea, there are really not many transgender [people] who have come out and are actors, and there's just a couple of gay [actors] who have come out publicly," he continues. "So it was physically difficult to find a transgender actor who could really play the role. It was, realistically speaking, nearly impossible."

I will try my best to do authentic casting for not just transgender [people], but other sexual minorities as well," Hwang says. "And I really hope that we could move toward that kind of society. But in the case of East Asian culture, like Japan or China or Korea, it's really difficult to do that kind of authentic casting. I really hope that going forward we have a more open and inclusive and embracing society that enables that."

Hwang explains that he was moved as he watched the [out and trans] content creator go through a journey that ended in acceptance when it came to the casting choice. [...] She was moved by how beautiful and how genuine this character portrayal was. It actually moved her to tears.

What's the story, again? That some very online people kicked up a fuss? Or that some very online people kicked up a fuss about people kicking up a fuss? Or culturally unaware Yanks tried to make the whole world march to their tune?

[–] Stovetop@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I recall there being a lot of fuss before the season about the casting of the trans character. People were preemptively assuming they were setting the character up to be some sort of parody, like a minstrel show or something, and attacking the casting choice on that basis.

I haven't seen Squid Game season 2, but based on other comments, it does not seem like that is what happened in actuality.

What I can also say, though, is that I don't recall there being such a huge controversy for something like casting Eddie Redmayne in The Danish Girl, so I guess it's fine when it's a European cast and crew behind it and not an Asian one.

[–] Semjaza@lemmynsfw.com 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

I suspect that age has something to do with the difference in treatment... There's been a lot of change in how all representation, let alone trans representation over the last decade.

But you're probably right in that racism, and the first series of Squid Game being very popular, have also played a role.

There wasn't a big online fan set waiting for Danish Girl II to complain about things in the lead up to release.

I missed pre release controversy as I try to ignore teasers and discussion of things I plan to watch one day (still haven't yet, though).

[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 1 points 3 weeks ago

online people

There you go, that's your answer

[–] ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 weeks ago

That some very online people kicked up a fuss? Or that some very online people kicked up a fuss about people kicking up a fuss? Or culturally unaware Yanks tried to make the whole world march to their tune?

The third operates just by creating the conditions of the first two.

[–] pastermil@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 weeks ago

These folks really like getting offended for someone else. Perhaps they live just to get offended.

[–] AlecSadler@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 3 weeks ago

I'm torn. I get the overall sentiment but I think they did right by the role as best they could given the climate.

Please feel free to correct me, I'm open to it, but I feel like fighting this is the least of many worries right this moment.

[–] Doom@ttrpg.network 1 points 3 weeks ago

I dislike this train of thought entirely.