Ji Soo’s Bullying Scandal Resurfaces, Agency Sued for Rp10 Billion in Damages

Ji Soo's (Doc. Ist)

WartaGate.com — An old scandal involving South Korean actor Ji Soo has once again drawn public attention. Allegations of school bullying that surfaced about five years ago are now impacting his former agency, KeyEast, which is being sued for approximately Rp10 billion in damages by the production company of the drama River Where the Moon Rises.

The drama originally starred Ji Soo as one of the lead actors alongside Kim So-hyun. However, in March 2021, an internet user claimed to have been a victim of Ji Soo’s school bullying. Following that statement, several others came forward with similar accusations. Thousands of Korean netizens even signed a petition demanding that Ji Soo be removed from the project.

In response to the growing controversy, television network KBS2 released an official statement. The broadcaster announced that Ji Soo’s appearances in already recorded episodes would be minimized before airing. For subsequent episodes, the production team decided to conduct reshoots with a replacement actor.

This decision required several supporting actors, including Lee Ji-hoon, Wang Bit-na, Choi Yu-hwa, Kim Eun-se, Ryoo Ui-hyun, and Kim Hee-jung, to undergo reshooting. They continued the production without requesting additional payment for the extra filming. The production team expressed gratitude for the cast’s cooperation, especially since most of the episodes had already been completed before the controversy emerged.

Ji Soo’s role was eventually replaced by Na In-woo. After facing heavy criticism due to the scandal, Ji Soo is now reportedly trying to rebuild his career, including pursuing acting activities in the Philippines.

This case illustrates how a personal controversy involving an actor can significantly affect production processes and everyone involved. In addition to sparking public debate, the situation has also created financial and professional consequences for the entertainment industry connected to it.