What really happened? The Sulli-Kim Soo Hyun controversy explained
South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun has come under intense public scrutiny amid resurfaced allegations surrounding his past associations with late actresses Sulli and Kim Sae-ron. The controversy has gained momentum in recent days following cryptic social media posts by Sulli’s brother, Choi Geon-hee, which many believe are aimed at the 'It’s Okay to Not Be Okay' star. The ongoing discourse has reignited discussions about Sulli’s 2017 film 'Real,' in which she co-starred with Kim Soo-hyun.
Cryptic social media posts stir speculation
Choi Geon-hee took to Instagram on March 27, sharing a cryptic post that read, “It’s been six years since my sister’s been gone. Six years since you’ve played around with her. Now there are six years of pain that you will receive. Don’t break down too soon,” as quoted by Koreaboo. While he did not explicitly mention Kim Soo-hyun, the timing of his post coincided with the actor’s escalating controversy, fueling speculation about its intended target.
This is not the first time Choi has shared ambiguous messages on social media, leading many netizens to believe he was alluding to Kim Soo-hyun. Fans have revisited 'Real' and questioned whether behind-the-scenes issues contributed to Sulli’s struggles prior to her tragic passing in 2019.
'Real' controversy resurfaces
The 2017 neo-noir action film 'Real,' directed by Kim Soo-hyun’s relative Lee Sa-rang, has been at the center of renewed debate. The film, notorious for its explicit scenes, was widely panned upon release and remains controversial due to its handling of a topless scene involving Sulli. The actress, who was just venturing into the film industry after transitioning from K-pop, faced severe backlash at the time. Critics argued that she bore the brunt of public criticism while the film’s male leads and production team remained largely unscathed.
Following Sulli’s death in 2019, her family revealed that troubling allegations surfaced during her funeral. Her brother Choi Da-hee, who has also spoken out recently, claimed that the controversial bedroom scene was not part of the original script. He further alleged that a body double was arranged for the sequence but was reportedly absent on the day of filming, leading to Sulli being pressured into completing the scene herself.
Sulli’s brother demands answers
Amid the resurfaced controversy, Choi Da-hee has called for accountability from Kim Soo-hyun and director Lee Sa-rang. He outlined three primary concerns regarding Sulli’s involvement in Real:
- Whether the intimate scene was detailed in the original script.
- Why Sulli was allegedly compelled to film the scene when a body double was arranged.
- Conflicting accounts from production members regarding the body double’s role.
In a statement, Choi Da-hee said, “We could no longer ignore the death of the late Kim Sae-ron or treat it as if it were not our concern. Although we learned a lot at Sulli’s funeral, we are limiting our questions to these three key facts and earnestly ask for sincere responses.”
Director of 'Real' breaks silence
Amid growing online debate, 'Real’ movie's original director, Lee Jung-sub, addressed the troubled production history of the film. On March 28, he re-shared a tweet referring to his abrupt replacement during filming, a decision that was never fully explained.
He commented, "Someone mentioned an old tweet I wrote in 2017 about the director change incident for the film Real. I suppose the film is being brought up again because of a certain actor these days… No way - could it really be them? Now that the film is out, I can say this confidently: director Lee Jung Sub had absolutely 0% responsibility for how that movie turned out," as quoted by Kbizoom.
He quoted the re-tweet, writing, "Thank you. It has pained me deeply for a long time."
Lee Jung Sub originally helmed 'Real' as its director, overseeing much of the film’s production before being replaced by Lee Sa Rang. Lee Sa Rang, a relative of Kim Soo Hyun and the current CEO of Gold Medalist, took over the directorial responsibilities. At the time, the production company attributed the leadership change to "creative differences" between Lee Jung Sub and the rest of the team.
Kim Soo-hyun’s agency responds
As Kim Soo-hyun grapples with allegations regarding Kim Sae-ron, Sulli’s resurfaced controversy has added to his legal and public relations challenges. His agency, Gold Medalist, issued a brief statement regarding the claims, saying they are “currently verifying the situation.”
Sulli, born Choi Jin-ri, was a well-known actress and singer in South Korea. She was found dead at her home in October 2019 at the age of 25. Multiple reports have linked her death to prolonged depression and cyberbullying, exacerbated by the intense backlash she faced following the movie's release.
With speculation mounting, his upcoming press conference on March 31 is expected to be a pivotal moment in addressing these lingering allegations.