'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
On December 26, 2024, a discussion titled "The settings of 'Squid Game' 2 female characters" emerged on the Korean forum "theqoo," drawing significant attention. The post gained attention after citing a review that criticized the portrayal of women in season 2 of Squid Game.
The review highlighted what it deemed a significant flaw—namely, the lack of diversity and depth in the female characters, especially when compared to their male counterparts. The review noted that, despite an increase in the number of female characters in season 2, many are primarily defined by their roles as mothers or their relationships with children.
Viewers of the show voiced strong opinions about the portrayal of women in Squid Game season 2. Many netizens expressed frustration over the show’s portrayal of women as primarily mothers or potential mothers, a trope they found stereotypical and limiting. One viewer commented,
Trending
"It's really indigenous to see women only as mothers."
"They only sexualize single women and have absolutely no interest in unmarried women. This is how the country and the dramas are," mentioned a netizen.
"Women are good << This is also misogyny.They are just people, there are good people and bad people," said an user of the site.
"If you think about it, there's no such thing as a situation where the male character's circumstances are absurd when applied to a female character. Haha. It's just that the way you look at women is indigenous," shared one individual on the site.
"That damn maternal loveㅋㅋㅋIf there was no maternal love, you couldn't draw female charactersㅋㅋㅋㄱThere really aren't any male characters that emphasize paternal loveㅋㅋㅋ," pointed out this netizen.
The discussion also spread to X, where viewers voiced their frustration over the portrayal of female characters in Squid Game 2. The discourse on X amplified calls for better writing and more nuanced female characters, with many urging the creators to step away from outdated tropes in the future.
"Squid Game season 2 writer need to learn how to write female characters from Alice in Borderland. I'm gonna cry we only have several female characters yet they have 3 of them having motherhood as their motivations. The female characterization from s1 was better i guess," wrote an X user.
"i respect mothers okay but women... has their own identity other than being a mother... for having 3 mothers role... even the youngest actress... you can tell that the writer is a man lol they don't know how to make a women character with good motivations to join the game," said a viewer on X.
"squid game production team half a*s announcing the female casts that weren’t in the official cast video…it’s giving let’s add some female characters in there to get away from backlash and then kill them off in the end," added another netizen.
Squid Game season 2 faces backlash over one-dimensional female characters
The review noted that while the number of female characters in Squid Game 2 had increased compared to the first season, these women were largely defined by one-dimensional roles centered around motherhood. Geum-ja, played by Kang Ae-sim, is introduced as a mother who enters the deadly game to help her gambling-addicted son, only to later confront him as a fellow participant.
The character also gets constantly belittled by her fellow participants for being an old woman. In one instance she is even left out to almost die by the other participants, including her own son.
Jun-hee, played by Jo Yuri is a pregnant young woman on the brink of single motherhood, having lost everything after her boyfriend’s betrayal. No-eul, portrayed by Park Gyu-young, is a defector and former soldier who left her young daughter in North Korea, unsure of her fate.
No-eul, unsuccessfully looking for her daughter, enters the game as a guard of the game. The character, initially portrayed as strong, is soon plunged into vulnerability and weakness as she gets assaulted by her fellow guards.
In comparison, the female characters from the first season of Squid Game, such as the crafty Han Mi-nyeo (Kim Joo-yeong), the resilient Kang Sae-byeok (Jung Ho-yeon), and the rebellious Ji-yeong (Lee Yoo-mi), were praised for their multifaceted storylines. These women were not confined to maternal roles, allowing for a wider range of character exploration, making them more complex and multifaceted.
Many viewers felt that the portrayal of women in Squid Game 2 was far less nuanced, with a noticeable lack of diversity in their roles. This led some to accuse the season of pushing a propaganda-driven narrative.
One of the few standout female characters in season 2 of Squid Game, according to the review, was Hyeon-joo, however, played by a man, Park Sung-hoon. Hyeon-joo is a trans woman who enters the game to fund her gender confirmation surgery.
Despite the compelling nature of her storyline, it was pointed out that Hyeon-joo’s character still intersects with male-driven themes. This again led the concerns about the series’ ability to authentically portray female characters.
The online backlash from viewers seemed to echo these sentiments. They lamented the overemphasis on maternal love as a defining trait for female characters.
They argued that it was as if the writers could not conceive of female characters without incorporating this element. A notable point was made that while the maternal love narrative was heavily explored, the male characters did not similarly emphasize paternal love.
Notably, Squid Game season 2 faced significant backlash following the release of its first teaser trailer in June 2023.
Streaming globally on Netflix since December 26, 2024, Squid Game season 2 raises the stakes with a staggering prize of 45.6 billion KRW and a fresh roster of desperate participants. Lee Jung-jae reprises his role as Seong Gi-hun, who returns to the deadly competition three years after his initial win, determined to uncover its secrets. Wi Ha-joon is back as police officer Jun-ho, continuing his relentless search for his missing brother, In-ho.
The new season also features an expanded cast, including Im Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-wook, and Park Sung-hoon. Under the direction of Hwang Dong-hyuk, the series delves into the contestants' emotional and personal struggles, heightening the tension.
