• Director Hwang Reacts to Park Sung Hoon’s Controversial Post—Will This Affect Squid Game 2?

    Director Hwang Dong Hyuk, the mastermind behind Squid Game 2, recently opened up about the controversy surrounding actor Park Sung Hoon’s social media mistake, where he accidentally posted an adult film cover concept related to the hit series.

    During an interview on January 2nd, Director Hwang shared his honest thoughts on the unexpected incident. The interview took place at a cafe in Seoul, where he reflected on Squid Game’s massive success.

    The first season became a global sensation after its release in September 2021, and it still holds the number one spot on Netflix. Hwang, who directed and wrote the series, even revealed he had a dental issue during season 1 and had to have eight teeth removed, surprising many of his fans.

    After over three years, Squid Game 2 finally premiered on December 26, 2024. However, just four days later, Park Sung Hoon made a blunder that caused quite a stir.

    The actor uploaded a concept image for an adult video (AV) based on Squid Game on his social media, which he quickly deleted. Despite removing the post, it was already spread across online communities, causing controversy.

    When asked about his reaction to Park Sung Hoon’s mistake, Director Hwang said, "Even during season 1, something like this happened overseas. It’s not uncommon when a famous work like this is released".

    He went on to express his displeasure, saying, "It’s unpleasant. It completely destroys the meaning of the work itself."

    Hwang also mentioned that he had not spoken with Park Sung Hoon about the incident. "It seems like someone sent him the image, but I haven't heard how it ended up being posted. Honestly, I do want to know why he made that mistake," Hwang added.

    Park Sung Hoon later explained that he had accidentally uploaded the image while checking his direct messages. His lack of relevant features on his social media led to further confusion.

    Eventually, he clarified that he had received the image, realized it was problematic, and intended to forward it to the company. However, it was mistakenly uploaded to his account.

    As the controversy continues to unfold, many are waiting to hear how Park Sung Hoon will address the situation in his upcoming interviews. With Director Hwang expressing his displeasure, all eyes are on the actor’s next steps.

    Source: [1]

  • BTS's Jimin Breaks Records in Japan with "Who" as it Earns Prestigious 'Gold' Streaming Certification

    BTS’s Jimin is once again proving his global dominance, especially in Japan, where his solo music continues to break records!

    Jimin's hit song "Who", from his second album MUSE, has just been awarded the prestigious Gold streaming certification from the Japan Record Association (RIAJ).

    This honor comes after "Who" surpassed a remarkable 50 million streams in February, making it the first solo song by Jimin to receive this certification in Japan!

    The Japan Record Association certifies music based on total streams, with Gold for 50 million streams, Platinum for 100 million, and Diamond for a massive 500 million.

    This achievement adds another significant milestone to Jimin’s growing solo career.

    Previously, Jimin also earned a Platinum certification for his first album FACE (for 250,000 units shipped) and a Gold certification for MUSE (for over 100,000 units shipped).

    With the Gold streaming certification for "Who", Jimin now holds a total of three prestigious certifications from the Japan Record Association, solidifying his place as a solo artist.

    Not only that, but "Who" made waves on the Billboard charts, staying on the Billboard Hot 100 for an impressive 33 weeks, setting a record for the longest-charting K-pop solo song! It also spent 32 weeks on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, showing just how much love fans have for his music.

    Jimin’s solo success doesn’t stop there, as GOLDEN also spent 20 weeks on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart, and Jimin continues to dominate the Billboard Japan Artist 100, where he has now charted for 47 weeks! Clearly, Jimin’s popularity is unstoppable!

    Source (1)