Actor Lee Chae-min has risen to stardom as the biggest beneficiary of Bon Appetit, Your Majesty, but the backlash from that glory is being directed at his publicly dating partner, actor Ryu Da-in. Instead of support for the actor who has just begun to spread his wings, an unfortunate situation has arisen in which indiscriminate malicious comments are being poured onto his partner.
Lee Chae-min was brought in to replace Park Sung-hoon, who stepped down over a private life issue, and he won viewers' hearts playing Yeonhui-gun Lee Heon.
With Lee Chae-min's activities, the final episode of Bon Appetit, Your Majesty ended with a peak viewership rating of 20%, and it ranked No. 1 in Netflix's global TV shows (non-English) category for two consecutive weeks and charted in the top 10 for six consecutive weeks during its run. It repeatedly achieved results of TOP5 or higher in the global TV shows (non-English) category, and it topped Good Data Corporation's FUNdex integrated TV-OTT drama and cast categories for six consecutive weeks in terms of buzz. It also rose to No. 1 on Gallup Korea's "TV and video programs Koreans liked in Sept. 2025," proving it had become a must-watch drama.
The drama's explosive popularity and spotlight turned to lead actor Lee Chae-min, who in an instant firmly stamped himself as the next-generation "it actor."
But that celebration is spreading in the wrong direction. Some internet users began posting malicious comments on the social media of actor Ryu Da-in, who is publicly dating Lee Chae-min. They wrote, "You could just post a birthday greeting, but you had to post the same cake... you know they're dating, so don't post thinking about it. You still can't get out of the chemistry with Yoona... it's nice they're dating, but it ruined my immersion," "Don't you have any consideration while doing the same work?", "She's doing things even ordinary girlfriends don't do", "Thank you for saving us from spending money at fan meetings", "Tone it down a bit", "It's a waste not to have Chae-min", "Don't ruin Chae-min and Yoona's drama and stop trying to get attention," and other malicious comments.
Such forced arguments are closer to obvious "envy" and "jealousy" that try to pick apart an actor's private life to hurt their partner rather than sound criticism of the work.
The irony is that fans had been supporting the couple's open relationship, but the situation changed when Lee Chae-min rose to stardom with Bon Appetit, Your Majesty. As his popularity rises, the emotional pain that his partner Ryu Da-in must bear is also growing. In the end, it appears that the innocent partner is taking the bitter aftershocks hidden behind the sweet success of stardom on the body.
An actor's acting and work can be subject to evaluation. But an actor's private life, especially who their partner is and how they express love, cannot be subject to criticism. Leaving malicious comments for an actor's partner on the grounds that they "ruined" one's immersion is violence that cannot be justified for any reason. Celebrating the birth of a new star and supporting his future is a desirable fan culture. But that support should not cross the line, invade his private life, and wound his loved ones.
Now that Lee Chae-min's efforts and talent are shining, what he needs is not arrows of criticism aimed at his partner but the mature support of fans who fully celebrate his growth. Please stop indiscriminate malicious comments and watch warmly so the two actors can be strength to each other and shine in their respective places.
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