"I Am a Successful Rapist"... Netflix 'Beef' Actor's Remark Sparks Controversy

Controversy Spreads as Past Remarks Resurface
Boycott Movement Emerges for Related Work

The controversy surrounding past sexual assault allegations against a Korean-American artist who appeared in the Netflix drama 'Seongnan Saramdeul (BEEF)' is intensifying. There are even calls for a boycott of the drama.

According to foreign media including NBC News in the U.S. on the 18th (local time), the problematic remarks came from David Choi (46) during a podcast he hosted in 2014. In the broadcast, he said, "I am a successful rapist."

David Choi (46), who plays the role of 'Isaac' in the Netflix drama Beef. [Photo by Netflix, Beef screenshot]

He described the incident in detail, saying, "In the past, I had sexual intercourse in front of a massage therapist," and "even after the therapist refused, I forced sexual intercourse." He also said, "I felt the thrill that I might go to prison."

When another cast member asked, "Are you saying you are a rapist?" David Choi laughed and said, "I am a successful rapist."

After the broadcast aired and the controversy erupted, David Choi explained, "It is not true. I have never sexually assaulted anyone. The story about the massage therapist was fictional," adding, "If I committed a sin, it was my bad storytelling."

However, the podcast episode containing his remarks was shared again on the internet as 'Seongnan Saramdeul' gained popularity.

According to the media, the episode has recently been made private due to copyright issues and other reasons. Some have raised suspicions that "David Choi himself reported it to make it disappear."

Additionally, some netizens have shown a 'drama boycott' movement due to David Choi's past remarks, the media reported.

Furthermore, a foreign media outlet stated that they contacted the production company of 'Seongnan Saramdeul,' Netflix, and the director regarding the issue but did not receive any response.

David Choi is a Korean-American well-known graphic artist. He is famous for becoming wealthy by receiving Facebook stock as payment for painting a mural at Facebook's first Silicon Valley office.

He played a significant supporting role as Isaac in 'Seongnan Saramdeul.' The drama, released on the 6th, features Korean-American actor Steven Yeun, who was the first Asian to be nominated for the Best Actor Oscar in the U.S., playing a Korean-American role.

Meanwhile, this is not the first time a Korean-American actor's sexual misconduct issue has affected a drama's success.

Korean-American actor Jin Ha, who appeared in the Apple TV+ original drama 'Pachinko,' once apologized for illegal filming and sexual harassment controversies involving elderly Korean women.

Between 2010 and 2011, Jin Ha secretly filmed elderly Korean women and posted photos on his blog with sexually harassing remarks such as "a model showing sexy charm" and "it was hard to control lust while working with a provocative model," drawing criticism.

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