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.

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IU has once again warmed hearts with her sweet and caring nature — this time by personally helping young actress Kim Tae Yeon get ready for her very first awards show.

The two actresses both played the same character, Ae Soon, in different stages of life in the Netflix drama "When Life Gives You Tangerines". IU played the adult version while Kim Tae Yeon touched viewers with her emotional performance as young Ae Soon.

Even though Kim Tae Yeon doesn’t have an agency yet, IU made sure the young star wouldn’t be alone. According to insiders, IU personally visited a dress shop with Kim Tae Yeon to help her pick out a beautiful outfit. She even helped with hair and makeup plans, making sure Tae Yeon could shine at the upcoming 61st Baeksang Arts Awards, where both actresses are nominated.

Kim Tae Yeon’s mom posted about the moment on Instagram, saying:

“Tae Yeon met IU unnie and told me to say thank you. Words aren’t enough to express how grateful we are. We were so surprised by her unexpected visit, and her thoughtful care truly touched our hearts. Thank you again to IU for the gift.”

The post also showed a happy Kim Tae Yeon holding IU’s present and choosing a dress — a moment that melted fans’ hearts.

IU is well-known in the industry for her generosity and kindness. While filming "You Have Done Well", she reportedly gave thoughtful gifts and created a warm, friendly vibe on set for everyone, from co-stars to staff.

The drama itself became a big hit, earning praise both in Korea and overseas. IU, Park Bo Gum, Yeom Hye Ran, Choi Dae Hoon, and Kim Tae Yeon all received Baeksang nominations — a huge achievement, especially for the young star.

Kim Tae Yeon, born in 2011, has been acting since she was little and appeared in dramas like Crash Landing on You, A Dog’s Love Today, and Gyeongseong Creature. But her powerful acting in "When Life Gives You Tangerines" truly made people cry, smile, and remember her name.

IU didn’t stop at helping Kim Tae Yeon. She also invited fellow cast members Moon So Ri, Park Hae Joon, Ahn Tae Rin, and more to her concert, sending them gifts to show her love and support.

In an earlier interview, IU talked about giving gifts to so many people. She humbly said,

“As I do more projects, there are more people I’m thankful for, but it’s not as hard as people think. I just hope the people receiving the gifts feel happy.”

Talking about the drama, she added,

“It was such a grand project. Just being part of it was a blessing. It made me think, ‘Ji Eun, you really experienced something amazing.’ I’m grateful I could work with such great people.”

Once again, IU has proved she’s not just a talented singer and actress — she’s also a true “Good Deed Queen.”

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