Actor Park Sung-hoon has issued a second apology regarding the controversy over sharing the cover of a Japanese adult video (AV) parodying 'Squid Game.'
On December 31, BH Entertainment, his agency, released an official statement providing a detailed account of the incident.
According to the agency, Park received the problematic AV poster via direct message (DM) on social media. The image in question was a parody of Netflix’s ‘Squid Game 2,’ featuring adult film actors dressed in the series’ iconic tracksuits, engaging in explicit scenes.
BH Entertainment explained, “After receiving the image via DM, Park Sung-hoon deemed it problematic and downloaded it to forward it to the company for review. However, instead of deleting the file immediately after sending it, he accidentally uploaded it to his Instagram Story.”
Although the post was deleted within a minute of being uploaded, it had already spread rapidly across online communities and social media platforms.
Initially, the agency attributed the incident to “an accidental share while checking DMs.” However, as criticism persisted, they issued a more comprehensive explanation.
“Park Sung-hoon himself was deeply shocked and distressed by the incident. He is reflecting on it sincerely,” the agency stated.
Despite the clarification, public reaction remains overwhelmingly negative. Many questioned the plausibility of accidentally posting such an image during a file transfer to his agency.
The fact that the controversial image parodies ‘Squid Game 2’—a series with a global fanbase—has only added to the backlash, with many fans expressing discomfort and disappointment.
Park Sung-hoon is currently cast in ‘Squid Game 2,’ playing the role of Cho Hyun-ju, a transgender character who joins the game to fund gender reassignment surgery.