Tearful Park Sung-hoon Replaced in Drama Set to Star with Girls’ Generation’s YoonA Amid 'Squid Game 2' Controversy

Actor Park Sung-hoon has made a difficult decision to withdraw from his upcoming project with Girl's Generation YoonA.

On January 11, OSEN reported that Park Sung-hoon would be stepping down from the tvN drama 'The Tyrant’s Chef(Working English Title)'. According to the report, the decision was reached amicably between the production team and Park’s agency.

The drama 'The Tyrant’s Chef' tells the story of a French chef who time-slips from the modern day to the past, where he meets a tyrannical king with a sophisticated palate. Through their unlikely bond, they develop a love story that transcends 500 years.

Directed by Jang Tae-yoo, known for hit dramas like SBS’s 'Deep Rooted Tree', 'My Love from the Star', and 'Hyena', as well as MBC’s 'Knight Flower', the series had already cast Girls’ Generation’s Yoona as the female lead.

The Controversy Surrounding Park Sung-hoon

Park Sung-hoon’s departure is linked to a recent controversy involving his social media activity. While promoting Netflix’s 'Squid Game' Season 2, the actor uploaded a parody image related to a Japanese adult film spoofing the series. Although he quickly deleted the post and apologized, the backlash from some netizens was severe.

In an interview, 'Squid Game' Season 2 director Hwang Dong-hyuk commented on the issue: “I find such parodies upsetting. I understand that similar adult parodies were made overseas during the first season, which was also frustrating. It completely distorts the meaning of the work.” He added, “I haven’t spoken to Park Sung-hoon about it yet. From what I know, someone sent him that photo, but I want to understand how it ended up being posted.”

Park Sung-hoon’s Public Apology

On January 8, during an interview for 'Squid Game' Season 2, Park Sung-hoon issued another apology, even shedding tears. He said, “I feel deeply upset that this happened during a time when the project and characters are receiving so much love and attention. I’m most sorry to the entire team.”

Acknowledging his mistake, he stated, “Although it was uploaded accidentally, a mistake is a mistake. I’ve reflected deeply on my actions over the past few days, feeling immense regret and self-reproach. I fully understand the severity of this situation and promise to be more mindful in the future, both in my words and actions as an actor. No matter the excuse, the fault lies with me, so I ask that all criticism be directed toward me alone.”

Park also shared that he attempted to contact Director Hwang but was unable to reach him. Despite his repeated apologies, support for Park has been growing, with comments on his Instagram such as, “It was a mistake; don’t be too hard on yourself,” “This has escalated too much, and I’m more worried about Park Sung-hoon,” and “Stay strong, Park Sung-hoon.”

Ultimately, Park Sung-hoon has decided to step down from The Tyrant’s Chef. While the controversy has cast a shadow over his career, many fans continue to rally behind him, hoping he can recover from this setback and move forward.

Meanwhile, actor Lee Chae-min is reportedly considering joining 'The Tyrant’s Chef' as Park Sung-hoon’s replacement.