Last year's hit tvN drama Queen of Tears is now facing an unexpected storm as two of its leading male actors, Kim Soo-hyun and Park Sung-hoon, have become embroiled in separate controversies.

Kim Soo-hyun, who played the lead role of Baek Hyun-woo, and Park Sung-hoon, who portrayed Yoon Eun-seong, were central figures in the drama, making the situation even more unsettling for fans.

On March 10, allegations surfaced claiming that the late actress Kim Sae-ron had been in a six-year relationship with Kim Soo-hyun, starting when she was underage.

Kim Sae-ron's family made these claims through the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute (GaSeYeon), further alleging that when Kim Sae-ron was struggling financially following her DUI incident, Kim Soo-hyun's agency, Gold Medalist, demanded 700 million KRW (approximately $520,000) in damages, worsening her hardship.

Gold Medalist strongly denied all accusations, stating, "The claims made by GaSeYeon about Kim Soo-hyun are completely false."

However, on March 11, the controversy escalated as GaSeYeon released additional content, including a photo of Kim Soo-hyun kissing Kim Sae-ron on the cheek and a series of text messages. In the texts, Kim Sae-ron pleaded for more time to repay the 700 million KRW but allegedly received no response from Kim Soo-hyun.

The scandal has drawn particularly strong criticism overseas, where allegations of relationships involving minors are highly sensitive. Queen of Tears had gained massive international popularity, largely due to Kim Soo-hyun's Hallyu star power, making the backlash even more severe.

Meanwhile, Park Sung-hoon has also found himself at the center of controversy after he posted an image inspired by Squid Game on a Japanese adult video cover.

Although the photo was swiftly deleted, it spread rapidly online, leading to severe backlash. As a result, Park Sung-hoon was removed from his upcoming tvN drama The Tyrant's Chef.

His agency, BH Entertainment, responded, stating, "He accidentally uploaded the image while checking direct messages (DMs). He deeply regrets the mistake."

In January, Park Sung-hoon addressed the issue during a press interview for Squid Game: Season 2, saying, "I sincerely apologize for my major mistake, which caused discomfort and concern for many people."

Despite his apology, the public reaction remained harsh. Ultimately, CJ ENM confirmed to Xports News that "After extensive discussions between the production team and Park Sung-hoon's side, we have decided that he will not be participating in the drama."

With two of Queen of Tears' main actors embroiled in scandals, disappointed fans expressed their frustration online, commenting, "I don't think I can rewatch this drama now," "Only Kim Ji-won is left unscathed," and "It's sad to see a drama I loved being overshadowed by controversy."

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