'%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,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAID/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwT/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAN7Ar//EACEQAAEEAQMFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQBAgMFBgASQRETITFy/9oACAEBAAE/AMbvUsq+4jFAYNYlV7C0ehEnbXdKsStdzx7TVfiN2WAMSuWFMWaJsmxsPhvVPrX/xAAYEQACAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgADEf/aAAgBAgEBPwC5i2Ez/8QAFxEAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAERMf/aAAgBAwEBPwCaj//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Actor Park Sung-hoon, known for his roles in The Glory (2022) and Queen of Tears (2024), has recently come under fire after sharing an explicit post on Instagram Stories. The now-deleted post, which referenced Squid Game, sparked backlash due to its inappropriate content.
The controversy has spilled over into discussions about his upcoming 2025 drama, The Tyrant’s Chef, where he is reportedly in talks to star opposite Lim YoonA of Girls’ Generation. Fans of YoonA have called for him to be recast, while Park Sung-hoon’s defenders believe such demands are unwarranted. One fan on X tweeted:
"Knetz are pretty extreme."
Trending
Netizens echoed similar sentiments on the social media platform.
"So did they ask to recast lee jinwook for all his projets this year or he has a free pass?? Posting the story is disgusting but i think a r*pist is way more disgusting! one is a criminal, the other is an idiot (i think something is weird about the ig story)" voiced this fan.
"I think Koreans have such big egos that they think they are perfect and incapable of making mistakes, they apologized, can't they just forgive and let it go?" said another fan.
"I don’t agree with whatever park sunghoon did but why the treatment is different for the Lee Jin wook guy. Why are the netz quiet when it comes to him?" argued a netizen.
"No one ever asks for a recast for the r*pists accused and declared guilty (in squid game there are 4 for example but no one lifted a finger aaaah the Koreans)" wrote one X user.
While many netizens have criticized him, calling his apology insincere, others have come to his defense.
"Seriously!!! How come a joke decides a fate of an actor. If all are that innocent how could they get the joke at the first place😏" read a comment on X.
"I just don't understand there was one time I got a spam link and when I click it it's posting automatically in sns and even sent dms to my x followers the link, its just happened just because I clicked that .....why do I think this can be something like that" shared one netizen.
"people make mistakes which was posting it public not him having the photo so I don’t see the issue maybe Korea should be bothered about its s*x offenders more than this" posted an individual on X.
Park Sung-hoon faces backlash over controversial Instagram post
On December 30, 2024, South Korean media outlet Newsen reported that actor Park Sung-hoon uploaded a controversial parody AV cover on his Instagram account. The post referenced Squid Game and depicted explicit visuals, including bare bodies and inappropriate themes. Although it was quickly deleted, the post sparked widespread controversy before its removal.
BH Entertainment, Park Sung-hoon’s agency, responded to the backlash with an official statement, explaining that the upload was accidental. They stated that the actor was overwhelmed by a large number of direct messages (DMs) on his social media and mistakenly posted the image while attempting to check them.
The agency clarified:
“Park Sung-hoon was receiving too many DMs on his social media, and he accidentally uploaded it while checking the DMs. The actor himself was very surprised, and he is very sorry for making such a mistake in these times.”
They assured that Park Sung-hoon deeply regretted the incident and would be more cautious in the future. Despite the apology, screenshots of the deleted post circulated widely online, fueling public outrage. Many netizens expressed skepticism, calling the explanation unconvincing.
Recently, Park Sung-hoon received praise for his portrayal of Hyun Joo (Player #120), a transgender woman in Squid Game season 2. While the role was initially controversial due to its casting, his performance won him critical acclaim and a new wave of fans.
Impact on upcoming drama and calls for recasting
The recent controversy has ignited discussions about Park Sung-hoon’s involvement in the upcoming K-drama The Tyrant’s Chef. The drama is based on the webtoon Surviving as Yeonsangun’s Chef by Park Kook Jae. It follows a talented chef who time-travels to the past to cook for Yeonsangun, a king known for his cruelty and refined palate.
Park Sung-hoon is reported to play the king, a character who oscillates between tyranny and a love for gourmet food. As reported by OSEN on September 24, 2024, Girls’ Generation’s Lim YoonA has been cast as the female lead, portraying the modern chef navigating the challenges of the royal kitchen.
Initially, fans were excited to see Park Sung-hoon take on a lead role, marking a shift from his antagonist portrayals in The Glory and Queen of Tears. Social media reflected anticipation for his chemistry with YoonA. However, following the controversy, fans of YoonA and many netizens are now calling for Park Sung-hoon’s removal from The Tyrant’s Chef.
