‘Squid Game’ creator addresses T.O.P.’s past marijuana issue, Park Sung-Hoon’s lewd post
Hwang Dong-Hyuk, the creator and director of the hit Netflix series Squid Game, has finally brought to light the issues involving Season 2 cast members T.O.P. and Park Sung Hoon.
One backlash stems from the casting of T.O.P., whose real name is Choi Seung Hyun. In the series, he plays Player 230, a drug addict named Thanos.
Hwang revealed that his team initially faced challenges in casting someone who could portray the role of a rapper grappling with drug addiction, revealing that T.O.P, who was involved in a marijuana-related controversy in 2017, wasn't originally considered for the role.
"I wanted to create a group reflecting current issues among young people, such as the frenzy over cryptocurrencies, virtual currencies, and drugs, which are also problems overseas. We held auditions for a long time, looking for someone who could portray a hip-hop-loving, drug-using character, but I couldn’t find anyone who met my criteria," he told Sports Chosun.
Despite T.O.P.'s past, after careful consideration and numerous auditions, Hwang ultimately decided he was the right fit for the role.
"Since he used to act and rap, they (Hwang's team) suggested contacting him through the production company. I wasn’t expecting much, considering he had been away for a long time and had quit everything after the marijuana incident. I think he spent a lot of time reflecting on whether he could play a rapper ruined by drugs, a role that was so similar to his own story," Hwang revealed.
However, this didn't sit right with social media users, which led Hwang to acknowledge that he had underestimated the criticism. He cited numerous examples of South Korean public figures who have successfully resumed their careers after periods of introspection, saying since it has been seven years since the issue has passed, he "thought enough time had passed for people to accept him."
The award-winning director also claimed that he did not think that T.O.P.’s issues would be a problem internationally, as marijuana usage is legal in many countries outside South Korea.
“I wanted to work with him to create something that could show whether he could earn forgiveness. In the end, it’s up to the public to decide if they’ll accept him again after seeing his work,” Hwang added.
Park Sung-Hoon's 'inappropriate' post
Season 2 was met with another backlash following actor Sung Hoon's sharing of an inappropriate parody of the show on his Instagram story amid the country's seven-day national mourning period following the Jeju Air crash. The actor later apologized for the incident.
In another interview, Hwang expressed his disapproval, stating, “It was so unpleasant to see.”
The Queen of Tears actor faced backlash as his portrayal of a nuanced transgender player contradicted his online behavior when he posted a screenshot of a pornographic video that referenced the show.
“I was aware there were AV parodies like that overseas since season one. Since it’s overseas and not domestic, we can’t stop it, and it’s frustrating,” the Squid Game director said. “It ruins the meaning of the work itself.”
Hwang disclosed that he has yet to talk to Sung Hoon, who played a transgender character named Hyun-Ju in the series, and ask why he had posted the screenshot.
Netflix premiered Squid Game 2 on Dec. 26. Hwang during the red carpet of the Golden Globes 2025 that Season 3 will come out “sooner than you expect.”
