“Really collecting male actors with problematic activities"— Park Sung-hoon's AV parody update sparks backlash over Squid Game 2’s casting choices

On December 30, 2024, Squid Game 2 actor Park Sung-hoon found himself embroiled in controversy after posting explicit content on his social media account. The post, allegedly a parody series, quickly went viral and sparked an intense backlash from netizens. The actor had uploaded an adult video (AV) poster featuring explicit images of women before quickly deleting it.

Despite initial speculation that his account might have been hacked, it was later confirmed that Park had mistakenly uploaded the content while checking direct messages.

According to a South Korean media outlet, Maeil Business News, Park Sung-hoon's agency, BH Entertainment, issued an official statement explaining that the actor had inadvertently posted the image while scrolling through his messages.

"It was a mistake made while the actor was checking DM (direct message). There were too many messages related to the photo on SNS DM, and the attempt to share this problem with the company's account led to an accidental click and upload to SNS," the agency said.

The timing of the post raised additional concerns. Park had recently garnered widespread acclaim for portraying Hyun Joo, a transgender ex-special forces soldier, in Squid Game Season 2. Fans expressed disappointment, especially considering his role in a high-profile series.

One netizen's reaction (Image via X/@EYESONJlSOO)

Many opined that the person responsible for casting the male actors should be fired. They pointed out that many of the men involved have questionable pasts, emphasizing that this cannot be a coincidence.

"See? Squid game men are PROBLEMATIC," an X user wrote.

"They need to fire whoever responsible for the male casting, half the men are predators and incls this isn’t a coincidence," a netizen commented.

"park sunghoon you are a disgusting man, this is the guy who is playing a trans woman in this trash series, this is how he promotes this sh*t.. how disgusting it all is," another person wrote.

"half of the cast of this series came straight from prison (or not since criminals in korea don't get arrested," an X user added.

Some also argued that the backlash against the male actors in Squid Game is escalating and should be reconsidered.

"the amount of problematic men in this show needs to be studied,' a netizen mentioned.

"so for male actors to be casted in squid game they are required to have a criminal record or just be horrible people overall," another user wrote.

"Oh god oh god ... The entire cast of SG are just horrible misogynistic men," an X user added.

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More about Squid Game 2 male cast and their past controversies

The casting of Squid Game season 2 has drawn attention not only for its star-studded lineup but also for the controversial pasts of several male cast members. In addition to Park Sung-hoon's recent social media mishap, other actors in the series have faced legal and personal controversies that have raised eyebrows among netizens.

Former K-pop star T.O.P, who made an appearance in Squid Game 2, was involved in a scandal in 2017 when he was arrested for alleged drug use. His conviction led to a suspended sentence, and his military service position was lost.

Actor Lee Jung-jae has also faced controversy in the past, including two separate incidents of driving under the influence (DUI). In one instance, his blood alcohol content was found to be well above the legal limit, resulting in the revocation of his driver's license. Moreover, Lee has also been embroiled in a legal dispute over fraud involving the acquisition of a major stake in a production company.

Another contentious figure is Lee Jin-wook, who was accused of r*pe in 2016. Although the charges were later dropped, his casting in Squid Game 2 has sparked outrage among some viewers.

Even veteran actor Lee Byung-hun has been involved in his share of scandals. As per Korea JoongAng Daily, in 2009, Lee was accused of blackmail by his ex-girlfriend, who claimed that he had deceived her into a s*xual relationship.

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The seven-episode sequel to the popular Squid Game debuted globally on December 26, 2024, and is available for streaming on Netflix.