Park Seong-hoon Exits 'The Tyrant's Chef' Amid Controversy

Actor Park Seong-hoon (박성훈), who sparked controversy after posting a parody of the Netflix series Squid Game (오징어게임) in the form of a Japanese adult film poster on social media, has officially stepped down from his role in the drama 'The Tyrant's Chef' (폭군의 셰프). On January 11, his agency BH Entertainment and the production company Studio Dragon announced that they had mutually agreed it would be difficult for him to continue with the project.

The controversy erupted when Park shared the parody on December 30, which led to significant backlash. He had previously appeared in 'Squid Game 2' (오징어게임2) as the character Hyun-joo, a transgender role. In response to the uproar, his agency clarified that Park had mistakenly posted a direct message he received on Instagram.

During a press interview related to 'Squid Game 2' on January 8, Park expressed his remorse, shedding tears as he apologized. He stated, "I have spent the past few days filled with self-blame, regret, and reflection. I fully understand the seriousness of the situation and will be more cautious in my words and actions to prevent similar mistakes in the future."

Following the announcement of his departure from 'The Tyrant's Chef,' discussions have erupted online. Supporters of Park argue that it was merely a mistake and criticize the harshness of the backlash, with comments like, "Is it wrong for adults to view adult content?" and "He didn’t post illegal content, so this reaction is absurd."

Conversely, critics contend that the timing of the post, during a period of mourning for the Incheon Airport tragedy, makes it difficult to view it as a simple mistake.

Park Seong-hoon gained attention for his role as the school bully Jeon Jae-jun in the Netflix series 'The Glory' (더 글로리) and left a strong impression as the antagonist Yoon Eun-sung in 'Queen of Tears' (눈물의 여왕).