Actor Park Sung-Hoon has officially stepped down from the highly anticipated tvN K-drama The Tyrant’s Chef, in which he was set to star alongside Girls’ Generation’s Yoona.

According to OSEN, the decision was made mutually by the production team and Park’s agency following in-depth discussions.

Park Sung Hoon’s departure follows a controversy involving his personal social media. The actor accidentally posted an explicit parody image of Squid Game, linked to adult content, during a time of national mourning in South Korea.

The incident also coincided with the cancellation of the drama’s initial script reading. However, the production team clarified that the cancellation was a mark of respect for the victims of the Jeju Air tragedy and not related to Park’s controversy.

Park addressed the incident in an apology issued during an interview on 8 January for Squid Game 2. He explained, “I found a problematic photo in my DMs as I was rushing to go out around lunchtime to go to my schedule. While exchanging the show’s reactions with the organizer, I think I accidentally posted it to my story while sending it."

"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,” he added.

The production team of The Tyrant’s Chef has yet to announce who will replace Park Sung Hoon in the role, but fans remain eager for the drama’s release later this year.

The Tyrant’s Chef follows the story of a French chef who unexpectedly travels back in time, meeting a tyrannical king with a secret passion for gourmet food. Together, they embark on a transformative journey of love and growth across centuries.