In early 2025, actor Park Sung Hoon, best known internationally for his role in Squid gamehas been removed from the cast of the hit K-drama Bon appetit, Your Majesty following controversy over an inappropriate Instagram post. The incident sparked widespread criticism, particularly from viewers who questioned its suitability for romance-focused projects.
At the time, many K-drama fans expressed strong opposition to Park appearing as a romantic male lead, arguing that scandals involving explicit content made it difficult for audiences to stay immersed in a romance. One widely shared comment read: “Stepping down was the right choice. Even if it was a mistake, this is not a crime thriller. If the male protagonist of a romantic comedy does something like that, viewers can’t stay immersed.”
An attempt at a comeback in another romantic drama
After keeping a relatively low profile for much of 2025, Park Sung Hoon is now set to return to television in Efficient dating for singlesa JTBC weekend drama adapted from a popular webtoon. The series premiere is scheduled for February 28, 2026, after the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics.
In the drama series, Park will play Song Tae Seop, co-starring alongside Han Ji Min as Lee Ui Young. The production team described the project as a relatable love story aimed at viewers in their 20s and 30s, stating: “We hope this series can serve as a dating textbook for people seeking a balance between work and love.”
Public reaction remains largely negative
Despite the idea of the new project and the high-profile casting, the public reaction was extremely critical. Online forums and comments sections quickly filled with negative responses, with many viewers reiterating their discomfort with Park leading a romantic drama.
Comments ranged from blatant disinterest “I don’t think I’ll watch” to harsher critics who ask why a romantic audience, largely made up of women, should be expected to sympathize or root for a male protagonist linked to such controversy. While a minority of commentators argued that the backlash might be excessive compared to other industry scandals, others firmly rejected that idea, insisting that the genre itself made the casting particularly inappropriate.
Several viewers also expressed disappointment on Han Ji Min’s behalf, praising her while distancing themselves from the project as a whole.
Park Sung Hoon’s casting highlights the lingering impact of audience perception in romance-focused K-drama films, where audience immersion and emotional investment are especially critical. If Efficient dating for singles Whether it can overcome the controversy and win over skeptical viewers remains to be seen, but early reactions suggest that Park’s return to the romance genre will continue to come under intense scrutiny.
Sources: Naver, Theqoo
