After a career-disrupting social media incident, actor Park Sung Hoon is officially set to return to television. His new drama, “Efficient Meeting of Singles,” is scheduled to premiere on JTBC in 2026. The project marks his first major role since he was forced to withdraw from a previous drama following public backlash.
The new series is based on a popular Naver webtoon and will tell the story of a woman who decides to find love through organized blind dates. She finds herself caught between two men with completely different personalities, ultimately discovering what true love really means.
The New Drama and Its Cast
“Efficient Meeting of Singles” features a strong ensemble cast. Han Ji-min, known for her roles in romantic series, will play the lead character, Lee Yi-young. Her character is an assistant manager at a hotel who is successful in her career but struggles in her personal life. She decides to pursue “artificial meetings” to find a partner.
Park Sung-hoon will take on the role of Song Tae-seop, one of Lee Yi-young’s blind dates. His character is the owner of a woodworking studio who hopes to meet someone special and start a family. Despite having firm beliefs about life and love, an unexpected meeting throws his emotions into confusion.
The cast is rounded out by several other actors. Lee Ki-taek will play Shin Ji-soo, the other man vying for Lee Yi-young’s affections. Jung Hye-sung will portray Jung Hyun-min, a colleague and friend of the female lead, while Kim So-hye will play Shim Sae-byeok, a young rookie at the hotel.
The Controversy That Led to a Withdrawal
In December 2024, Park Sung-hoon faced intense public criticism after he accidentally posted an explicit image to his Instagram story. The image was a cover for a Japanese adult video that parodied “Squid Game 2,” the Netflix series in which he starred.
His agency, BH Entertainment, quickly issued an explanation. They stated that the actor had received the image in a direct message and had mistakenly posted it while attempting to forward it to a company representative to report the inappropriate content. The agency said, “Park Sung-hoon received the image via DM and, considering it problematic, downloaded it to send to a company representative. He intended to delete it immediately after sending it but accidentally posted it.”
However, the public apology and explanation were not enough to calm the backlash. The incident was especially sensitive because it occurred during a national mourning period for a major plane crash in South Korea. The controversy grew so severe that fans petitioned for his removal from his then-upcoming project, the tvN drama “The Tyrant’s Chef,” where he was set to star alongside Girls’ Generation’s Yoona.
By January 2025, the production company and Park’s agency announced that he would voluntarily step down from the drama. A statement confirmed, “After extensive discussions between the production team and Park Sung-hoon, it was decided that he would not participate in this project.” He was subsequently replaced by actor Lee Chae-min.
The Aftermath and Career Path
The social media misstep had immediate professional consequences. During a promotional event for “Squid Game 2,” a tearful Park Sung-hoon publicly apologized for his mistake. Despite the controversy surrounding his personal actions, his professional work continued to be well-received. His role as the transgender character Player 120, Jo Hyun-ju, in “Squid Game 2” was praised by audiences around the world.
His career momentum continues with the upcoming “Squid Game Season 3,” which is scheduled to premiere on Netflix in June 2025. He attended the Netflix ‘TUDUM’ global fan event in May 2025, where he hinted at his character’s expanded role, saying, “Season 3 will exceed everything you imagined. Please look forward to it.”
Looking Toward 2026
The announcement of Park Sung-hoon’s casting in “Efficient Meeting of Singles” has generated mixed reactions from the public. While some fans support his return, others remain critical, questioning whether an actor associated with such a controversy is suitable for a romantic lead role. This division has placed the drama under increased scrutiny as it prepares for its 2026 premiere.
The production is reportedly in its final stages of filming. All eyes will be on JTBC to see if the network’s decision to cast Park Sung-hoon in a key weekend time slot will be accepted by viewers.
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