Squid Game Season 2 standout Park Sung Hoon is reportedly ready to break cover and make his K-drama comeback with the upcoming webtoon-based series, Efficient Dating of Single Men and Women. The previously controversy-riddled South Korean actor could romance actress Han Ji Min of SBS TV’s Love Scout fame, according to SPOTV News.
The preliminary news of the reported K-drama casting has established that the upcoming K-drama will be helmed by Run On (starring Im Si Wan, Shin Se Kyung) director Lee Jae Hoon. Efficient Dating of Single Men and Women is expected to depict modern-day romance between singles who chase efficiency in their relationship and recognise that love alone isn’t sufficient for things to work out in the long run.
Squid Game actor’s agency responds to K-drama comeback reports
In response to the March 26 casting news, Squid Game star Park Sung Hoon’s agency BH Entertainment told K-media outlets MyDaily and OSEN that another actor is also in the running for the male lead’s role in the upcoming drama. As of now, their official stand is that they are also waiting to hear back from the drama officials whether Park will ultimately be tapped to step into the shoes of the protagonist.
Park Sung Hoon’s Squid Game 2 controversy
The Squid Game 2 actor was widely praised for his performance in the hit Netflix K-drama’s sequel last year. However, an NSFW controversy soon overtook headlines associated with Park Sung Hoon. Also known for his memorable roles in The Glory and Queen of Tears, Sung Hoon’s successful run was cut short after he shared a pornographic parody of Squid Game Season 2 on his personal social media profile. The incident — still fresh in K-drama memory — resulted in the actor being hit with severe backlash despite his quick response to delete the post.
His agency, thereafter, released multiple official statements, reiterating apologies. In January, Squid Game’s Park Sung Hoon sat down for an interview and again expressed remorse for his blunder. “I apologise for the great mistake I made recently, which caused discomfort and concern to many people,” he said at the time.
“Some have suggested that I might have intended to upload it to a secondary account, but I don’t even own a secondary account — I only use the one I currently have.” He tearfully continued, “Although it was my mistake, I firmly acknowledge it as a wrongdoing. Over the past few days, I’ve reflected deeply, blaming and regretting my actions.”
Park Sung Hoon’s previous K-drama return was cancelled
That same month, Park was replaced by rising star Lee Chae Min in tvN’s The Tyrant’s Chef, which was announced hot on the heels of the Squid Game 2 premiere and Sung Hoon’s successful run as a trans woman character. The Queen of Tears actor was originally set to star opposite Im Yoon Ah in the forthcoming tvN title.
Ever since then, his K-drama comeback has been up in the air. If the latest discussion holds any truth, Park may soon be seen opposite Love Scout’s Han Ji Min.
The beloved actress amassed new heights of popularity thanks to her early 2025 drama co-starring Lee Joon Hyuk. Throughout its broadcast, the refreshing workplace romance series garnered high viewership ratings on the domestic K-drama scene while gaining global attention despite a limited OTT distribution.