"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?

[–] AlecSadler@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 6 hours 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.

[–] pastermil@sh.itjust.works 3 points 8 hours ago

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

[–] _cryptagion@lemmy.dbzer0.com 30 points 14 hours 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 19 points 14 hours 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 7 points 12 hours 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 1 points 9 hours ago

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

[–] Oka@sopuli.xyz 25 points 15 hours 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 4 points 11 hours ago

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

[–] Doom@ttrpg.network 1 points 9 hours ago

I dislike this train of thought entirely.