Park Sung-hoon Returns to Social Media After Controversy

Actor Park Sung-hoon has returned to social media after a three-week hiatus following a controversy involving a parody of Netflix's Squid Game. On January 17, 2025, he shared a photoshoot in collaboration with fashion magazine W KOREA, showcasing clothing from luxury brand G. Fans expressed their support with comments like, "We missed you so much," and "Come back stronger and brighter!"

Previously, on December 30, 2024, Park posted a cover image of a Japanese adult film that parodied Squid Game, which he quickly deleted. His agency, BH Entertainment, explained that the post was an accidental upload while managing a flood of direct messages on his social media. They stated that Park was shocked and deeply apologetic for the mistake, promising to be more cautious in the future.

However, the agency's explanation faced scrutiny as uploading a photo to Instagram requires saving it first, leading to accusations of a misleading statement. The following day, they clarified that the image was saved for a company representative and was mistakenly posted online. They reiterated that Park was very upset and reflecting on the incident.

During an interview for Squid Game 2 on January 8, Park personally apologized for the social media incident, expressing his regret for causing distress at a time when he should have been celebrating the show's release. He acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and committed to being more careful in his future conduct.

Despite his apologies, the controversy continued, with some fans calling for him to step down from his upcoming project, The Tyrant's Chef, which features a romantic storyline with actress YoonA. Reports later confirmed that Park Sung-hoon has decided to leave the project, with actor Lee Chae-min being considered for his role.