Will Park Sung-hoon Leave Squid Game Season 3? Controversial Social Media Post Explained

Park Sung-hoon in Squid Game Season 2
Credit: Netflix | Fair use for promotional, commentary, and news purposes

Park Sung-hoon in Squid Game Season 2
Credit: Netflix | Fair use for promotional, commentary, and news purposes

Park Sung-hoon, widely recognized for his role as Cho Hyun-ju or Player 120 in Squid Game Season 2, has recently found himself at the center of a major controversy that has cast uncertainty over his future in the hit Netflix series.

The situation unfolded when he accidentally shared an explicit parody image related to Squid Game on social media.

Although he deleted the post almost immediately, it quickly went viral, prompting significant backlash from fans. This incident ultimately led to his resignation from the upcoming K-drama The Tyrant’s Chef, where he was set to star alongside K-pop idol YoonA.

As a result of this controversy, questions have arisen about Park's future in Squid Game Season 3: Will he leave the highly anticipated third and final season?

The Controversial Incident

On December 30, 2024, Park accidentally posted an explicit image inspired by Squid Game on his Instagram.

The image was a cover for a Japanese adult video titled Squirt Game, which he claimed to have received through a direct message.

The Queen of Tears star intended to share it privately with his agency as a heads-up about its problematic nature but mistakenly made it public instead.

Although he deleted the post shortly after sharing it, it had already garnered significant attention, resulting in criticism from fans and critics alike.

The timing of the post has also been criticized, as it coincided with a national mourning period in South Korea following a tragic plane crash that resulted in the deaths of 179 individuals, deeming it insensitive.

The Controversy’s Impact on Squid Game Season 3

There has been speculation regarding whether Park Sung-hoon's recent controversy will impact his role in Squid Game Season 3, especially after he stepped down from his lead role in The Tyrant’s Chef as confirmed by the production company Studio Dragon.

“After extensive discussions between the production team and Park Sung-hoon, it was decided that he would not participate in this project,” it said (via Korea Times). “Both Park Sung-hoon and his agency have issued multiple apologies regarding the recent incident. After careful deliberation, the production team and the actor decided to go their separate ways.”

Currently, it appears that the 39-year-old actor will reprise his role as Player 120 in the series. This is likely because Season 3 was filmed back-to-back with Season 2 and is scheduled for an earlier-than-expected release this year.

That said, while the scandal has had significant repercussions for his upcoming projects, it may not affect his standing within the Squid Game franchise.

In an interview with Korea Economic Daily (via Koreaboo), Park apologized and expressed his commitment to continuing his acting career while vowing to be more mindful of his words and actions to avoid repeating the same mistake.

The Glory actor acknowledged the impact of his recent controversy and conveyed his deep remorse for any harm caused.

“I am truly sorry that I might have caused damage to the production made by the hard work of so many people, including the team, staff, and actors,” he said. “I felt a lot of regret and blamed myself for the inconvenience my mistake had caused. I will carry on with my acting career with a heavy heart, being mindful of my words and actions, so something like this will not happen again.”

Squid Game Season 3 is set to be released in 2025, while the first and second seasons are available to stream on Netflix.