Korean actress Seo Ye-ji, 31, is considering to star in a new Korean drama, signalling that she is ready to resume her career after she became embroiled in a gaslighting controversy with her former boyfriend, actor Kim Jung-hyun, last April.
On Sept. 6, Korean media reported that Seo Ye-ji has been offered to star in the tvN drama “Eve’s Scandal,” which is scheduled to air in the first half of next year.
As a response, Goldmedalist told the media, "Seo Ye-ji received an offer to appear in 'Eve's Scandal' and we are currently reviewing it."
tvN said, "We had discussions with Seo Ye-ji but nothing has been decided."
“'Eve's Scandal' is a romantic melodrama that deals with the story of a 2 trillion won ($1.7 billion) divorce lawsuit by a chaebol that has rocked South Korea. Seo Ye-ji was offered to play the role of Lee Ra-el, who was born to a genius father and beautiful mother but is transformed into a character with fatal charm after undergoing an unfortunate family history. She is at the center of the divorce.
If she accepts the offer, this will be her comeback drama after starring in last year’s “It's Okay to Not Be Okay” with Kim Soo-hyun.
Seo Ye-ji has been on hiatus since April after Korean media outlet Dispatch published a report stating that she manipulated Kim Jung-hyun while he was filming the 2018 drama “Time” that prevented him from doing any “skinship” or romantic scenes with co-star Seohyun of Girls’ Generation despite that it was required in the script.
Articles resurfaced pinpointing Kim Jung-hyun’s rude behavior towards Seohyun during the press conference for “Time” held on July 20, 2018. After “Time,” Kim Jung-hyun starred in “Crash Landing on You” and “Mr. Queen.”
Two days later, Seo Ye-ji admitted that she and Kim Jung-hyun became lovers and she did not deny the published text messages she sent to him in 2018 in which she ordered him to avoid any “skinship” or physical contact and romantic scenes with Seohyun.
“As a result of checking with Kim Jung-hyun, it was clearly confirmed that the drama-related controversy was not caused by Seo Ye-ji, and he expressed his intention to issue his position about it,” said Goldmedalist, Seo Ye-ji said in a statement.
Regarding the issue that Seo Ye-ji manipulated Kim Jung-hyun while he was filming “Time,” the agency said, “It is hard to understand through common sense the controversial report that the main actor of the drama would act as he is told by someone without his own free will. It is practically impossible for an actor to act and film without any will.”
Regarding the exchange of text messages between Seo Ye-ji and Kim Jung-hyun, the agency said those were “part of conversations between lovers showing jealousy about skinship with others.”
“This can be seen as a common lovers’ quarrel between actors who are lovers in the industry. However, all actors film normally, setting aside their lovers’ quarrel. We think Kim Jung-hyun must have had other inevitable personal circumstances too,” it said.
After Seo Ye-ji, Kim Jung-hyun issued a statement to apologize to Seohyun and the “Time” drama staff for his behavior.
“The drama ‘Time’ was a work that gave me my first lead role as an actor so it had a special meaning to me as well. However, I caused great disappointment and hurt to the director, writer, fellow actors and staff. I’m sorry,” he said.
He said that “in the drama 'Time,' my behavior at the production presentation and the whole process of dropping out were wrong. I sincerely apologize to actress Seohyun, who was hurt by this, and to all the people who suffered with it at the time.”
He promised to “visit the people in charge of 'Time' and all the people who have been hurt by me and apologize to them. Even if it takes a long time, I will find the director, writer, actors and staff and ask for forgiveness.”
“I apologize morally to my agency, O& Entertainment, and for the unpleasant mention of Culture Depot. Also, I sincerely apologize to fans who believed in me and always supported me,” he said.
He added, “I bow my head and ask for forgiveness to all those who have been discomforted by me. While I was writing this, I had time to reflect on my mistakes and wrongdoings. If I am given the chance, I will not take anything for granted, and I will always try to be a healthy actor who reflects and manages himself. I am sorry.”
Seo Ye-ji faced backlash from companies whose products she endorsed. In addition, she was accused of mistreatment of staff, school violence and lying about her academic background.
In May, Kim Jung-hyun and his agency O& Entertainment settled the issue of his exclusive contract. The agency earlier insisted that his contract should be extended by 11 months owing to the time that he went on hiatus in 2018 after leaving “Time” due to health reasons.
Both sides agreed that Kim Jung-hyun’s exclusive contract with his agency officially ended on May 11, 2021.