Actor Park Sang Myun, a familiar face to K-Drama audiences, revealed he faced a two-year professional setback following unsubstantiated rumors of drug apply. The incident, stemming from a 2010 tabloid report involving an unnamed “Actor P,” led to his removal from consideration for a year-conclude acting award and a prolonged period of unemployment, he shared on the MBN talk show, Kim Ju Ha’s Day & Night.
Park Sang Myun recounted that in 2010, his drama, Bread, Love and Dreams (also known as King of Baking, Kim Tak Goo), achieved a peak viewership of over 50%, and he was informed he was a likely recipient of an award. “That year, there was really no other drama to give awards to. I was nominated and even received a call telling me to prepare,” he said. However, the emergence of the tabloid report alleging marijuana use by “Actor P” quickly altered his prospects.
The report, according to Park, alluded to a drama similar to his own, but did not name any specific individual. Despite his name not being explicitly mentioned, suspicion quickly turned toward him. “They didn’t even reveal a real name, but the broadcasting station acted as if I was about to be arrested,” he explained. He was subsequently informed he was removed from the nomination list for Best Supporting Actor. “On the internet, everyone assumed it was me,” he stated.
Park Sang Myun noted the difficulty of publicly denying an accusation when no name had been attached to it. The actor said the real identity of “Actor P” was eventually revealed one or two years later, but by that time, the damage to his career was already done. “By then, it was too late. I couldn’t appear in any projects for two years,” he said.
Despite the hardship, Park Sang Myun emphasized his ability to move past the incident. “Fortunately, though, I let things go quickly. Not thinking too deeply is my strength. I let it go in one ear and out the other. I kept meeting friends, laughing, talking, and hanging out. That’s how I spent my time, and before I knew it, I’d forgotten about it,” he said.
Park Sang Myun ultimately received recognition for his work, winning the Excellence Award at the 2025 KBS Drama Awards for his role in Catch Your Luck, as reported by the Maeil Gyeongje newspaper.
