WARNING: The following article contains discussions related to sexual assault.
Squid Gameseason 2 star Park Sung-hoon has apologized for sharing an image taken from an adult parody of the hit Netflix series. Park, who portrays the transgender characterHyun-ju/Player 120, initially came under fire in December after sharing a sexually explicit image from a Japanese adult parody of the show on his Instagram account. While Park deleted the image within seconds of posting it, the incident sparked widespread criticism, and also prompted creator Hwang Dong-hyuk to publicly express his dismay at the situation.
During an interview withKorea Economic Daily(viaKoreaboo), Park addressed the incident directly. Even prior to the interview officially commencing, theSquid Gameactor suggested that he wasproceeding with a heavy heart and was deeply apologeticfor the harm that his actions caused the production:
I came here with a heavier and more nervous heart than ever before. 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.
Park would also go on to explain the origins of his controversial post, suggesting that he had originally received the problematic image in his DM’s. Concerned that the photo’s content could potentially cause issues,he sought to share it with the production team for review, when he accidentally shared it to his Instagram story instead:
I found a problematic photo in my DMs as I was rushing to go out around lunchtime to go to my schedule. It was during the beginning of the show’s release, and I thought it was a shocking photo and could cause problems. While exchanging the show’s reactions with the organizer, I think I accidentally posted it to my story while sending it.
Park also shot down suggestions that he had seen the original video from which image was sourced, or that he was inadvertently attempting to post to a private account. The embattled actor went on to express his ongoing regret for his mistake,promising that he will work toward avoiding similar incidents in the future. See the rest of Park’s response below:
I, of course, did not watch the video. I also do not have another account, so it wasn’t a mistake to attempt to upload it to a different account. 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.
What Park Sung-hoon’s Apology Means For Squid Game Season 2
The Actor’s Instagram Post Is Not The Show’s Only Controversy
The controversy sparked by Park’s Instagram post is not the only issue that Netflix’s hit Korean show has faced since season 2’s release. Not only wasPark’s original casting as Hyun-judrawn into question, with some online commentators taking issue with a cisgender male actor being cast as a trans woman, butSquid Gameseason 2 is also facing backlash in Vietnamdue to alleged misrepresentations of South Korea’s role in the Vietnam War.
However, Park’s initial post drew considerable ire among fans, not only for the explicit nature of the image, but also for the disturbing nature of the content contained within the video it originated from. Reportedly featuring representations of simulated sexual assault and kidnapping, the initial outrage sparked by Park’s post was also heightened byKorean laws that prohibit the production and distribution of pornographic content.
While Park’s sincere apology may go some way toward putting his actions into context, it remains to be seen whether his explanation will quell the ongoing backlash. Already the matter appears to have wider-reaching impacts, withPark recently stepping down from the forthcoming K-dramaThe Tyrant’s Chefamid the ongoing controversy.
Our Take On Squid Game’s Future Amid The Season 2 Controversies
The Show’s Problems Still May Not Slow Netflix’s Plans For The Squid Game Brand
Despite the problems plaguingSquid Gameseason 2’s release, it seems unlikely that Park’s misstep, and subsequent apology, will have any major impact on Netflix’s continuing plans for the property. Not only isSquid Gameseason 3already confirmed, and likely to arrive quickly given it was filmed back-to-back with season 2, but there are alsoreports of a potential American versionbeing made by David Fincher, which Hwang seemingly confirmed recently to be true.
Whether fans will take Park’s apology at face value remains to be seen. However, even in the wake of the show’s more recent issues, it would seem that plans to expand theSquid Gamebrand will continue regardless.
Squid Game
Cast
Squid Game is a South Korean series released in 2021 that follows numerous financially struggling participants who are invited to partake in children’s games with deadly outcomes. As they compete, they vie for a substantial cash prize, all while navigating lethal challenges orchestrated by mysterious figures.
