The untimely passing of Sulli, a cherished South Korean singer and actress, continues to ignite discussions, particularly concerning her participation in the contentious 2017 film Real. Recently, Sulli’s family has called for an official statement from actor Kim Soo Hyun regarding the explicit scenes she performed in during the film's production. This noir action thriller has gained renewed attention amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Kim Soo Hyun’s previous relationships, notably allegations related to his involvement with the late actress Kim Sae Ron when she was underage.
On March 28, Lee Jung Sub, the original director of Real, took to social media to discuss the film's problematic production. He shared a tweet from a netizen that stated: "Someone referenced an old tweet I posted in 2017 about the director change incident for the film Real. I guess the film is being discussed again because of a certain actor these days… Could it really be them? Now that the film is released, I can confidently say that director Lee Jung Sub had absolutely no responsibility for the film's outcome," as reported by Kbizoom.
His frustration with the situation was clear as he referenced the retweet, stating, "Thank you. It has caused me deep pain for a long time." Initially, Lee Jung Sub was set to direct the film Real, but after much of the filming was completed, the directorial responsibilities were handed over to Lee Sa Rang, who is not only related to Kim Soo Hyun but also serves as the current CEO of GOLDMEDALIST, the production company behind the project. At that time, the production company attributed the change to "creative differences" between Lee Jung Sub and the rest of the team.
On March 11, Lee voiced his anger about the widespread corruption within South Korea's media, entertainment, and political arenas. He remarked, “It is nearly impossible to penetrate the stronghold of South Korea’s media, along with the corporate interests and the political and financial networks that these celebrities are attached to. The true desperation of revealing this impenetrable cartel is only understood by those who have fallen victim to it.”
In light of the underage controversy involving Kim Soo Hyun, he has been sharing content related to Real, Kim Soo Hyun, Sulli, and Kim Sae Ron. On March 13, he also remarked, “Too many of my beloved friends have passed away. Reflecting on them, I feel as though I have survived in a miserable and cowardly manner. This world is too vile to maintain sanity.”
Meanwhile, Sulli’s brother has voiced concerns regarding her coerced involvement in explicit scenes during the filming of Real. They challenge the claims of a body double and are seeking clarifications from Kim Soo Hyun and director Lee Sa Rang. GOLDMEDALIST has refrained from further comments, merely stating that they are in the process of verifying the facts.
