South Korean actor Park Sung-hoon, who gained international fame for his role as Cho Hyun-ju (Player 120) in Squid Game Season 2, is now facing a significant backlash after a controversial Instagram post on December 30, 2024. The post featured the cover of Squirt Game, a Japanese adult parody of the popular Netflix series Squid Game. The image, which depicted adult actresses in explicit, often disturbing situations, sparked immediate outrage, particularly because it included scenes where women were depicted in abusive and violent contexts. The post was quickly deleted, but by then, screenshots had already gone viral, igniting widespread criticism both within South Korea and internationally.
The controversy was exacerbated by the timing of the post, as South Korea was in the midst of a seven-day mourning period for the victims of the tragic Jeju Air plane crash that occurred on December 29, 2024. Many felt that Park’s post was incredibly insensitive, considering the somber national mood.
In the wake of the uproar, Park’s agency, BH Entertainment, initially issued a statement claiming the post was a mistake. They explained that Park had received the image via direct message and had inadvertently uploaded it to his Instagram story. The agency emphasized that he was deeply sorry for the error and promised to be more cautious in the future.
However, as the criticism continued, the agency issued a revised statement with more details. They claimed that Park had downloaded the explicit image to report it to his management as inappropriate content related to Squid Game. The agency clarified that Park intended to flag the image for his manager but accidentally posted it to his Instagram. This revision raised further doubts, as fans pointed out the difficulty in directly sharing a DM image on Instagram without first downloading it, questioning the plausibility of the agency’s explanation.
The backlash has been intense, with many fans accusing Park of misogyny and questioning his actions. Some have pointed out the inconsistency in his behavior, given that he had previously portrayed a trans woman in Squid Game Season 2. This role, which was intended to shed light on social issues and injustices, made his association with such explicit content seem even more tone-deaf and contradictory. Fans have also highlighted the problematic nature of the content’s origins, coming from a genre of Japanese adult media notorious for its exploitative practices involving minors, further compounding the negative perception of the actor’s actions.
As the situation develops, fans remain divided. Some express sympathy for Park, acknowledging his quick apology and asking for understanding, while others are calling for consequences, such as his removal from upcoming projects like the highly anticipated drama The Tyrant’s Chef, in which he stars alongside Yoona. The actor has remained silent on the matter, allowing his agency to handle the public response. This silence has only added to the ongoing debate about accountability and the seriousness of his lapse in judgment.
