[Focus]"Do They Have Character Issues?" Actors Crying Over Exposures

The opening ceremony of the 26th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] "It feels like we need to carry a voice recorder on us at all times."

Recently, a series of revelations have deepened the sighs of actors and those in the related industries. The situation is intensifying as it expands from private to public spheres. This differs somewhat from the 2018 'Me Too' movement. There is a consensus that this is not a temporary phenomenon but a change brought about by the diversification of platforms.

On the 17th of last month, an online bulletin board posted an allegation that Kim Seonho pressured someone to have an abortion, but after the procedure, his attitude changed and he broke up with her. Three days later, Kim Seonho spoke out, apologizing by saying, "We met with good feelings, but I caused hurt due to my thoughtlessness and inconsiderate behavior."

Following this, YouTubers and others rushed to reveal mobile messages exchanged between the two during their relationship, escalating the exposure war. Some media outlets reported YouTubers' statements without verification and did not hesitate to disclose the identity of the original poster.

The next was Lee Jihoon. On the 5th, a staff member of IHQ's inaugural drama 'Sponsor' revealed that they were subjected to 'gapjil' (abuse of power) by Lee Jihoon on set, causing a stir. The claim was that a friend accompanying Lee Jihoon threatened the staff member, and Lee Jihoon himself also acted intimidatingly during the incident.

Subsequently, a YouTuber alleged that Lee Jihoon caused a disturbance on set by taking off his pants. It was said that Lee Jihoon, who usually did not get along with the staff member, deliberately appeared with a large friend.

Adding to this, a writer who claimed to have written the initial scenario for 'Sponsor' alleged that Lee Jihoon fired them due to insufficient screen time, lending weight to the 'gapjil' accusations.

As the controversy grew, Lee Jihoon denied causing a disturbance on set and said he only tried to calm down his friend and the staff member. He expressed his frustration, saying, "The CCTV footage will show the truth." After reviewing the broadcast station's CCTV, it was confirmed that Lee Jihoon did not cause a disturbance and appeared to be mediating between the staff member and his friend.

Actor Lee Youngbeom spoke out six years after his divorce in response to infidelity allegations made by his ex-wife, comedian Noh Yujeong. On the 29th of last month, Noh Yujeong claimed on an online broadcast run by former actor and shaman Jeong Hogun that "my ex-husband Lee Youngbeom's infidelity caused the marriage to break down."

She revealed that the person Lee Youngbeom had an affair with was a female actress, leading to a flood of speculative posts online.

In response, on the 7th, Lee Youngbeom denied the claims, stating, "There is no truth to the rumors that I had an affair with a certain actress," and announced his intention to take legal action.

Kim Seon-ho, Lee Ji-hoon, Lee Young-beom / Photo by tvN, IHQ, KBS

Amid the ongoing series of large and small revelations, insiders are expressing the need for a verifiable network extending even into private spheres.

An agency official said, "Anyone can post on online communities, and recently YouTubers have joined the exposure battles, reproducing issues through SNS," adding, "Regardless of the truth, the impact of an allegation once raised is enormous." He continued, "Recently, the exposure battles have expanded from non-celebrities versus celebrities to celebrity versus celebrity. It seems both sides are fighting a battle with nothing to gain," expressing bitterness.

A content production company official said, "When allegations about a cast member arise, everyone inevitably becomes very flustered. Many people are involved in preparing a project, each with different positions," adding, "We try to minimize risks as much as possible, but it is impossible to completely prevent losses."

The official also said, "Although contracts include penalty clauses, most do not claim penalties. This is not because the detailed clauses do not apply, but because various interests are intertwined," adding, "In unavoidable cases, it is usually settled with compensation claims, but even that is not an easy choice."

He continued, "Even if an actor has a good reputation in the industry, it is impossible to fully know their private life or their past, including their school days," lamenting. However, he added, "Verification is now essential. Alongside acting skills and recognition, personality and self-management, including private life, are also important. There is a more cautious atmosphere in casting, with prior investigations into the actor's network, drinking habits, and past statements."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.