South Korean actor Park Sung-hoon, who earned global recognition for his role as Cho Hyun-joo (Player 120) in Squid Game Season 2, is now at the center of controversy after an Instagram post that many fans Found it extremely problematic. The incident was widely criticized, both for the nature of the content shared and the explanations given afterward.

What happened?

On December 30, 2024, Park Sung-hoon shared the cover of Squirt Game, a Japanese adult parody of the globally acclaimed Netflix series Squid Game. The explicit image depicts adult actresses inspired by Squid game characters in inappropriate settings. According to users, women have been beaten to death in this parody. The actor quickly deleted the post within seconds, but not before the screenshot went viral online, sparking a backlash in South Korea and beyond.

The controversy has gained momentum as South Korea is currently observing a seven-day mourning period following the tragic Jeju air plane crash on December 29. The timing of the incident drew severe public criticism, with many calling his actions insensitive. Furthermore, what happened next brought more criticism of Sung-hoon and his PR team.

Initial response and revised explanation

Initially, Park Sung-hoon’s agency, BH Entertainment, released a statement claiming that the post was an accident. “Actor Park accidentally hit the wrong button and posted the photo, which he received in a direct message,” the statement said. “They are deeply sorry for making such a mistake in these circumstances and promise to be especially careful to ensure that it does not happen again.”

However, as the backlash intensified, the agency revised its explanation, adding more context. According to BH Entertainment, Park received the explicit image via DM and found it problematic. He reportedly downloaded it to report it to his management, intending to flag it as inappropriate content related to Squid Games. “They thought it would be a problem that there were such strange things going around about their work,” the agency said.

The amended statement clarified that Park had planned to send the image to her manager, but accidentally uploaded it to her Instagram Story.

Fan reactions–excessive or necessary?

Fans have expressed disappointment and anger on this matter. Some accused Park of misogyny, questioning why she saved the image in the first place and whether the explanation was credible. Many reported that it is impossible to share a DM image directly to Instagram without downloading it first, raising doubts about the agency’s actions.

Others have called for Sung-hoon’s removal from upcoming projects, including the anticipated drama, The Tyrant’s Chef, in which he stars alongside Yoona. The outrage has become severe since Sung-hoon played a trans woman in Squid Game Season 2, while sharing an image that many viewed as offensive and tone-deaf.

Another sad fact for fans was that the explicit content originated from Japanese adult media, notorious for exploitative practices involving minors and teenage girls. This association, coupled with Park’s role in Squid Game – a show criticizing exploitation and systemic injustice – has only heightened the backlash.

As the conversation continues, fans remain divided. Some have called for understanding, insisting on a prompt apology from the actor, while others have called for accountability, seeing it as a serious lapse in judgment. Meanwhile, Sung-hoon is remaining silent, allowing his agency to speak on his behalf.