Korean drama “It’s Okay to Not be Okay” star Seo Ye-ji has apologized for the 2021 controversy involving her former boyfriend, actor Kim Jung-hyun, and Girls’ Generation’s Seohyun, who both starred in the 2018 drama “Time.”
Seo Ye-ji issued the apology on Feb. 27, two days after the first photo of her for the new drama “Eve” was released.
The apology signals Seo Ye-ji’s aim to restart her career with a clean slate.
“First of all, I am sincerely sorry that I am conveying my feelings to you in writing so late,” she said in a statement released by her agency Goldmedalist.
Seo Ye-ji added, “I have had time to look back on myself while looking at the rebukes and many stories that have been given to me.”
“I would like to express my sincere apologies for causing concern to many people with my shortcomings. Once again, I sincerely bow my head and apologize for causing so much disappointment,” she said.
She said, “Everything stemmed from my immaturity, and I will do my best to act more carefully and show a more mature image in the future.”
Seo Ye-ji gained more recognition after starring with Kim Soo-hyun in the drama “It's Okay to Not Be Okay,” which aired on tvN and Netflix from June to August 2020.
But on April 12, 2021, Korean media outlet Dispatch published a report containing text messages between Seo Ye-ji and Kim Jung-hyun, who starred in the drama “Mr. Queen.”
The news report stated that Seo Ye-ji manipulated Kim Jung-hyun, who was her boyfriend then, while he was filming the drama “Time.” The report added this prevented Kim Jung-hyun from doing any “skinship” or romantic scenes with co-star Seohyun despite that it was required in the script.
The Seo Ye-ji story stemmed from a Dispatch story published earlier on April 8 about a supposed love affair between Kim Jung-hyun and actress Seo Ji-hye, who worked together in the hit drama “Crash Landing on You.”
It turned out that Kim Jung-hyun was enlisting the help of Seo Ji-hye so he could transfer to her agency, Culture Depot.
Culture Depot denied the dating report. Reports stated that the two met at Seo Ji-hye’s house to discuss the possibility of him transferring to Culture Depot from O& Entertainment where his contract was about to end in May 2021.
Kim Jung-hyun had a contract period dispute with O& Entertainment, which insisted that his contract should be extended by 11 months because he went on hiatus after quitting the drama “Time” in 2018 due to health reasons.
Several news articles were subsequently published in the Korean media against Kim Jung-hyun including his rude behavior towards Seohyun during the press conference for ‘Time.”
The April 12 story of Dispatch published text messages between Seo Ye-ji and Kim Jung-hyun in which she told him not to film skinship and romantic scenes with Seohyun.
Two days after the new story came out, Seo Ye-ji admitted that she and Kim Jung-hyun were in a relationship at the time. She did not deny the text messages.
“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.
The agency denied that Seo Ye-ji manipulated Kim Jung-hyun, saying, “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.”
It said text messages between the two 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,” said Goldmedalist.
Kim Jung-hyun
Kim Jung-hyun and O& Entertainment, meanwhile, settled their dispute, allowing him to sign an exclusive contract with Story J Co. in September 2021.
In an Instagram post on Sept. 25, he wrote, “I took up the courage to convey my heart to those who have made efforts for me and prayed for me. Over the past few months, I think I've been wandering around where I don't know where the floor is. I was busy looking back at myself, and I felt empty with no place to put my mind.”
“It was hard to endure myself. But at the same time, it was a time that allowed me to delve into the depths of my heart. I'm a person who is very lacking. I regret not taking responsibility for the choices I made. I admit my own fault for being quick to blame others and not maintaining my own health. This is also a letter of self-reflection that I write to myself,” he added.
Kim Jung-hyun thanked people at O& Entertainment, saying, “Without them, I wouldn't be where I am today. I hope that there will be bright days for each other in the future. Also, thank you to the many journalists who pointed out wrongdoings before it was too late and sent me various messages through their articles.”
“Lastly, to the fans who waited and gave me strength until now, I bow my head and express my deepest gratitude. Because of you, I was able to gain strength. Using the feelings you sent me as nourishment for my life, I will not fall, and even if I fall, I will get up and walk again,” he said.
Kim Jung-hyun added, “I will walk carefully one step at a time. I will live by focusing on acting so that I can repay you with a good image. Once again, I apologize to everyone who was hurt because of me. And I will devote myself to becoming a better person.”
Meanwhile, Seo Ye-ji will star in the drama “Eve” (formerly “Eve’s Scandal), which will be released this year.