On February 26, a production press conference for JTBC’s weekend drama “The Practical Guide to Love” (written by Lee Yi Jin, directed by Lee Jae Hoon) was held at The Link Hotel in Guro, Seoul. Director Lee Jae Hoon and lead actors Han Ji Min, Park Sung Hoon, and Lee Ki Taek attended the event.
Park Sung Hoon introduced his character Song Tae Seop as “a stable personality who values basic manners and respect.” However, attention also turned to this being his first official public appearance since the controversy surrounding him at the end of 2024.
At the time, Park uploaded an explicit Japanese adult video (AV) cover image to his personal social media story, sparking widespread criticism. During the press conference, he said, “It’s been a while since I’ve stood in front of reporters, so I’m very nervous. Compared to before, I’ve been living with a more cautious and serious attitude toward both my work and my life.”
Explaining why he chose to join the drama, Park shared, “As a fan of Han Ji Min, I wanted to work on a project with her. I also wanted to do a more relatable, slice-of-life drama. I’ve played many rough characters in the past, so I thought this would allow me to show a different kind of charm.”
The controversy dates back to December 30, 2024, when Park briefly uploaded an image of a Japanese AV poster to his Instagram story. The image reportedly featured adult actors wearing costumes resembling those from Netflix’s “Squid Game 2,” in which Park had appeared. He deleted the post shortly afterward.
Initially, his agency BH Entertainment explained that the image had been mistakenly shared while checking numerous direct messages. However, the following day, the agency revised its statement, admitting that Park had downloaded the image to forward it to company staff after judging it to be problematic, but mistakenly uploaded it instead before deleting it.
In January of last year, during media interviews for “Squid Game 2,” Park addressed the incident tearfully, saying, “Due to my great mistake, I caused discomfort and concern to many people. I sincerely apologize. I approached this opportunity with a heavier and more tense heart than ever before.”
“The Practical Guide to Love” tells the story of a woman who decides to pursue love and goes on blind dates, meeting two men with completely different charms. As she is drawn to both and wavers between them, she ultimately searches for the true meaning of love. The drama is based on the Naver webtoon of the same name by author Tari.
Han Ji Min plays Lee Eui Young, a senior member of The Hills Hotel’s purchasing team, who is sharp and capable at work but awkward when it comes to love. Having devoted herself to her career, she finally decides she can no longer postpone romance and agrees to go on blind dates.
Park Sung Hoon plays Song Tae Seop, the head of a woodworking studio called HOME. He declares that he does not calculate efficiency when it comes to the things he loves and boldly asks whether Lee Eui Young agrees to a relationship with marriage in mind, making her heart flutter. Meanwhile, Lee Ki Taek portrays theater actor Shin Ji Soo, a free-spirited man who invites her out for drinks on a whim and takes her for exhilarating motorcycle rides, offering a completely different kind of excitement.
“The Practical Guide to Love” premieres on February 28 at 10:40 p.m. KST.
Sources: Nate
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