Park Sung Hoon Bows His Head In Apology For Posting Japanese Porn Poster Of “Squid Game 2” At First Interview Following Controversy
Actor Park Sung Hoon directly addressed and apologized for the controversy surrounding his Instagram post of a parody poster of “Squid Game” created for a Japanese adult film.
On January 8, during an interview held at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, Park Sung Hoon expressed his regret and made his own personal apology for what happened.
Korean media noted that “Park Sug Hoon entered the interview room dressed in all-black attire, his hair unstyled, and he appeared noticeably thinner compared to his previous appearance at the production press conference.”
He said, “I sincerely apologize for causing discomfort and concern to many people due to my significant mistake. I approach this interview with a heavy and nervous heart, especially because of the efforts of the production crew and staff. I deeply regret any harm my actions may have caused them.”
Park Sung Hoon explained the circumstances leading to the incident. He stated, “Around lunchtime that day, while preparing to go out for an appointment, I discovered the problematic image via direct message (DM). At the time, the work had just been released, and I was exchanging feedback with the team on viewers’ reactions.”
He continued, “Seeing the image shocked me, and I thought it could cause problems. While trying to forward the image, some error occurred—perhaps due to my mishandling—resulting in the photo being uploaded to my Instagram Story.”
He clarified, “Some speculate that I intended to upload it to a secondary account, but I don’t have any secondary accounts. I only use one account.”
Park Sung Hoon offered a heartfelt apology, saying, “Although it was my mistake, a mistake is still a mistake. I have spent the past few days in deep self-reflection and regret.” He vowed to be more cautious moving forward, stating, “I will ensure that no similar incidents occur in the future by being more careful in my actions and words.”
During his explanation, the media outlet noted that Park Sung Hoon trembled and appeared visibly shaken, reflecting the tension and fear he felt in that moment.
The controversy began when Park Sung Hoon posted a Japanese adult film poster parodying Netflix’s original series “Squid Game,” featuring explicit nudity, on December 30. Although he quickly deleted the post, screenshots spread across the internet, leading to criticism. His agency explained that the image was mistakenly uploaded while he was trying to forward it after receiving it via DM, however, their explanation lacked sense according to netizens and the agency had issued a 2nd statement attempting to explain what happened.
“Squid Game” creator Hwang Dong Hyuk also commented on the issue, saying, “I haven’t discussed the matter with Park Sung Hoon yet, but I would like to know why such a mistake occurred. It’s deeply upsetting, as similar incidents happened with overseas content during Season 1. These kinds of things completely distort the meaning of the work and are truly unpleasant.”
Park Sung Hoon gained attention for his role as Jeon Jae Joon, a school bully, in Netflix’s “The Glory.” In “Squid Game” Season 2, he portrays Jo Hyun Joo, a transgender former special forces soldier.
What do you think of Park Sung Hoon’s apology?
