Director of 'Real' Addresses Controversy Over Forced Audition Claims

The 2017 film 'Real' starring Kim Soo-hyun has come under scrutiny online due to allegations of forced exposure during auditions. Lee Jung-seob, the director who left the project midway, took to social media on March 29 to clarify his position. He stated, "I do not have a director credit, so I am not officially qualified to explain. However, I was excluded from the initial audition process by the production team to ensure fairness." He added that he was able to meet the final eight actors selected by the production team and personally chose one of them, rookie actress Han Ji-eun, who went on to star alongside him in the film.

Lee also mentioned that actor Jo Woo-jin, who was a newcomer at the time, went through a rigorous audition process and was selected after careful consideration. They first met at a VIP screening before the film's release, where they conducted interviews and finalized casting. Despite his clarifications, Lee reiterated that he does not have the authority to explain due to his lack of credit as the director of 'Real'.

In response to some fans of Kim Soo-hyun who accused him of inciting controversy, Lee defended himself, saying, "I have been quietly doing my work and expressing my personal feelings, which have gone unnoticed. Now, the media is using me to gain advertising revenue. Nothing more, nothing less." He expressed a desire not to be exploited by either netizens or the media, urging fans to consider the impact of their idol's actions on the world.

Past audition notices for 'Real' indicated that the selection of the two lead actresses required high levels of exposure, with some applicants claiming that auditions were conducted in club attire. After Lee's departure, the film was produced and directed by Lee Ro-be, who is known to be Kim Soo-hyun's agency representative and family member. Following recent controversies surrounding Kim Soo-hyun, including excessive exposure scenes involving the late actress Sulli, the production team has faced allegations of coercing Sulli into such scenes. Sulli's brother, identified as A, is currently demanding an explanation from the production team, which has yet to respond.