South Korean actor Park Sung-hoon has stepped down from the drama project “The Tyrant’s Chef” following criticism over a social media post. The decision was announced by production company Studio Dragon on January 12.
“After discussions between the production team and Park Sung-hoon’s agency, we have decided that he will no longer be part of this project,” stated an official announcement from Studio Dragon.
Park Sung-hoon, who recently played the transgender character Hyun-ju in “Squid Game 2”, sparked controversy after uploading a photo to his Instagram Stories on December 30. Although the post was quickly deleted, it stirred discussions among fans and netizens, especially as the country was mourning the tragic Jeju Air crash on December 29, which claimed 179 lives.
Park Sung-hoon’s agency, BH Entertainment, clarified that the incident was unintentional.
Park Sung-hoon also publicly apologized during a “Squid Game 2” interview on January 8, but calls for him to withdraw from “The Tyrant’s Chef” continued to grow.
According to Korean media reports, actor Lee Chae-min, known for the drama “Hierarchy” (2024), is now in talks to take over the lead role in the drama. The series also stars Yoona from Girls’ Generation, who will play the role of a time-traveling chef who meets a king. – BOOM!