Actor Park Sung Hoon has officially stepped down from his role in tvN's upcoming drama The Tyrant's Chef, following ongoing controversy surrounding an Instagram post.

On January 11th, a tvN representative shared, "After a lot of discussion between the production team and Park Sung Hoon's side, we decided it would be difficult for him to continue with this project."

The statement continued, "Both Park Sung Hoon and his agency have apologized multiple times regarding the situation. After careful thought, the decision was made for the actor and the production to part ways."

The controversy began on December 30th when Park Sung Hoon shared a parody image of Netflix’s Squid Game featuring Japanese AV (adult video) content on his Instagram Story. Although he quickly deleted the post, it spread online, sparking major backlash.

BH Entertainment, Park Sung Hoon's agency, addressed the issue, stating, "Park Sung Hoon accidentally uploaded the image after pressing on a DM (direct message) he received. He was shocked by the mistake and is reflecting deeply on the matter."

However, the public response remained critical. The scheduled script reading for The Tyrant's Chef on February 2nd was canceled, leading to speculation that it was due to the ongoing AV photo scandal. tvN, however, attributed the delay to the national mourning period at the time.

During a February 9th interview about Squid Game Season 2, Park Sung Hoon emotionally opened up about the incident.

"During the show’s release week, I received the image in a DM while sharing audience reactions with a team member. I thought it could be an issue, and while trying to forward it, there was a mistake, and it somehow ended up on my Story", he explained.

He clarified, “I deleted the photo immediately and didn’t watch the video. Some have suggested I uploaded it to a secondary account, but I don’t even have one.”

When asked why he hadn’t shared proof of the problematic DM, Park Sung Hoon responded, "I get so many messages that retrieving one from weeks ago isn’t easy."

Despite his explanations, public opinion hasn’t softened, leading to his exit from the highly anticipated drama. Fans remain divided on whether the incident was a genuine mistake or carelessness on the actor’s part.

Source: [1]

Red Velvet’s Joy has made a major decision to continue her journey with SM Entertainment by renewing her contract with the company.

On January 14, Joy shared her excitement about the renewal, stating, "Based on the trust and faith we've built over the past 10 years, I had deep conversations with those I've been working with and felt that I want to move forward together in a good direction. Through positive synergy with SM, I will do my best to show my various sides to the fans."

SM Entertainment also expressed their happiness about the renewal, saying, "Following Seulgi and Irene, we are happy to continue this beautiful journey with Joy. We will work hard to allow her to fully demonstrate her limitless potential, not only as a member of Red Velvet but also as a solo artist and actress 'Park Soo-young.'"

Since Red Velvet’s debut in 2014 with their hit song “Happiness,” the group has gone on to release multiple chart-topping songs such as “Ice Cream Cake,” “Red Flavor,” “Feel My Rhythm,” and “Cosmic,” showcasing their unique concepts and diverse musical styles. The group also celebrated their 10th anniversary last September with a successful Asia fan concert tour, solidifying their strong global influence.

As a solo artist, Joy has also made a mark. She released her special album Hello in 2021, which was loved by fans of all ages. Known for her clear vocals and iconic charm, Joy has also ventured into hosting TV shows, acting, recording OSTs, and showing off her fashion style.

Fans are now looking forward to even more from Joy as she continues her journey with SM Entertainment.

Source (1)