Actor Kim Soo-hyun stars in the film 'Real,' directed by Lee Robe, known to be his family. The film continues to spark controversy daily. Most notably, attention is focused on whether the exposure-related allegations surrounding the female lead, Sulli (Choi Jin-ri), will be resolved.
Released in June 2017, 'Real' generated curiosity among prospective viewers with critical reviews labeling it as 'an unprecedented disaster' since the media preview. The casting lineup of Kim Soo-hyun and Sulli had already attracted attention early on. Kim Soo-hyun's long hiatus since KBS 2TV's 'Producer' heightened fans' expectations for this work. Not only did he take on dual roles for the first time since his debut, but he also aimed to transform with action surpassing that of his previous film 'The Thieves.'
While actively participating in the girl group f(x), Sulli gradually built her acting skills through the drama 'To the Beautiful You' and the films 'Pirates: Bandits Going to the Sea' and 'Fashion King.' After leaving f(x), she embarked on her full acting career and aimed for character transformation.
However, 'Real,' which had also unveiled its veil to the public, missed both critical acclaim and box office success. Most reactions indicated a lack of understanding of the story, and the final box office score was 471,105 (Korean Film Council). Considering the popularity of Kim Soo-hyun and Sulli and the pre-release buzz, it was a commercial failure.
Still, one virtue at that time was that Sulli demonstrated her potential as an actress. As an idol, she made bold choices and showcased her intention to expand her acting spectrum.
The risky bed scene with Kim Soo-hyun proved to be even more intense than the rumors suggested, clearly indicating it was not merely for 'marketing purposes.' Given Sulli's image as a bold issue maker, along with the character's struggles with drug addiction leading to inner destruction, selecting this role was surely a difficult decision. Sulli managed to portray this challenging character with her distinctive gaze and natural tone, leading to surprised reactions about her ability to command the character. Some expressed regret over her limited screen time. Indeed, according to insiders at the time, there were reports of Sulli's longing for 'difficult' roles as an actress.
Sulli commented on her transformation, saying, "I think I took on a significant challenge in acting. It was a difficult endeavor, and it was tough. I had many concerns. But I think it was interesting." However, provocative issues such as her exposure scenes and bed scenes proliferated even before the release. Speculation arose about whether Sulli would attend the official schedule for 'Real' as the film's controversy shifted focus to Sulli's exposure, leading her to feel burdened by excessive attention. Furthermore, the disappointment regarding the film's quality and completeness negatively impacted the perception of Sulli's acting. Ultimately, Sulli actively participated in promotional events like media interviews, film distribution previews, and stage greetings, opting for a direct confrontation. This decision was to fulfill her responsibility as an actress.
Recently, Sulli's older brother raised issues regarding the exposure scenes in 'Real,' demanding clarification. He claimed that despite there being a body double during filming, Sulli was coerced into performing high-intensity exposure scenes. 'Real' was produced and directed by Lee Robe after director Lee Jung-seob stepped down. Lee Robe is also the representative of Kim Soo-hyun's current agency, Gold Medalist. It was reported that the reason for director Lee Jung-seob's departure was due to an inability to narrow down differences regarding the editing direction with the production company.
Additionally, 'Real' has been embroiled in controversy over forced exposure auditions. According to previous announcements regarding 'Real's' open auditions, the two lead actresses were required to perform high-intensity exposure acting. There were also testimonies that the open auditions for 'Real' were unusually held at a club.
Meanwhile, Kim Soo-hyun is currently facing allegations of having dated late Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor. This, combined with the 'Real' controversy, has placed him in a difficult position. Kim Soo-hyun's side has clarified that he dated her during her adult years.
[Photo] Film still, OSEN DB
[OSEN]