After losing a role to controversy Squid Game Player 120 star has finally landed a new role

Park Sung-hoon, who played Player 120 in Squid Game, has been officially cast in a new TV drama following a recent scandal. Park will be seen in Efficient Dating for Singles, a K-drama about contemporary dating. Park's first officially confirmed role since being removed from a large project amid public outcry.

His career was disrupted due to a controversy over an inappropriate social media posting. After posting a public apology and clarifying that the posting was a mistake, Park stepped down from a forthcoming drama, The Tyrant's Chef.

Park had received lots of international attention for his portrayal of Cho Hyun-ju in Squid Game, a transgender role in the hit Netflix show. His performance elicited praise and criticism at the time, with conversations surrounding representation ongoing since then.

Park is getting set to re-emerge as an actor with this new venture and pick up where he left off professionally in the Korean TV scene. The news comes after months of rumination regarding his next roles following the scandal.

The controversy surrounding the Squid Game actor

Park Sung-hoon made headlines in December 2024 after he was involved in a controversy over a social media incident. Park shared an image of the cover of "Squirt Game," which is a Japanese adult parody of Squid Game, on his Instagram story.

The picture had explicit and violent content and was deleted within a matter of seconds. Although the image was deleted, screenshots of the same were widely shared on social media. The accident occurred when there was a national mourning period in South Korea due to the Jeju Air plane crash, which amplified the backlash.

Park's agency, BH Entertainment, released an official statement of apology and called the post an accident. Park accidentally posted the picture and took prompt action to erase it, according to BH Entertainment.

After the outcry, Park issued public apologies, saying he regretted it. The Hollywood Reporter reported that Park attributed the scandal to himself in interviews and apologized to fans and his peers. He withdrew from the drama The Tyrant's Chef following backlash from viewers and fans of his co-star YoonA, who denounced his participation in the show following the scandal.

Impact on Park Sung-hoon’s Career

Before the scandal, Park Sung-hoon was going to star in The Tyrant's Chef. The drama was going to be a high-profile production for Park's filmography. But following the Instagram post drama, social media campaigns began calling for his ousting from the project. Fans claimed his public behavior demeaned the project.

The incident also reignited controversy over Park's previous casting in Squid Game. Park starred as Cho Hyun-ju, a transgender character, which had previously raised eyebrows among some viewers, who questioned the casting of a cisgender actor.

Based on comments from Squid Game showrunner Hwang Dong-hyuk, the casting depended on limited choices within South Korea's entertainment community. Despite the controversy, Park's work was highlighted, and the character was featured in significant storylines throughout the series.

Park's pullout from The Tyrant's Chef was a setback to his career. The scandal brought about industry debate on responsibility, professionalism, and actor behavior in South Korea, particularly regarding public social media use.

Park Sung-hoon's new role

Park Sung-hoon will next appear in the drama Efficient Dating for Singles. The series focuses on themes of contemporary dating and relationships. Park will portray a central character described in interviews as a positive role, differing from his previous portrayals of complex or antagonistic figures.

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Park admitted that his Squid Game experience, especially playing a character with multifaceted identity features, affected how he shall approach future acting gigs. Park also made some comments on how he plans to act more in tune and professionally after the scandal.

His choice to appear in a romantic drama is, by some industry observers, considered a possible rebranding of his on-screen persona. Producers of Efficient Dating for Singles have not publicly discussed Park's casting other than in official statements. The production schedule and complete details on the cast of the drama are still pending release.

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