Kim Seon-ho’s career reached new heights with his role in ‘Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.’
According to the Korean newspaper Korea Herald, actor Kim Seon-ho will appear in the film Sad Tropics as originally expected. The actor recently suffered a blow to his career that turned public opinion against him and threatened to cancel all upcoming projects, but subsequent information released by the Korean newspaper Dispatch helped buffer some of the damage.
The movie’s production company NEW released a statement on Oct. 31 saying that after much consideration they will still work with Kim and that filming will start in December.
Kim was enjoying the success of the Netflix TV drama Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, in which he played his first leading TV role, when an ex-girlfriend anonymously accused him online of abandoning her after forcing her to get an abortion. She said he insisted on the abortion because he would lose advertising deals and have to pay a financial penalty if it was discovered that she was pregnant. She also accused him of suddenly breaking up with her because of the pregnancy. In the anonymous online post, Kim’s ex-girlfriend named the actor only as “K” but both she and the actor were soon identified.
Korean actors often sign a morality clause that involves having to pay a penalty if their personal behavior potentially tarnishes a product or project. Korean actors also appear in far more brand endorsements and commercial deals than actors in the US. It’s not uncommon and not considered overexposure to see a popular actor’s face frequently on TV and in print. So, the release of potentially scandalous information—whether it’s a bad breakup or bullying behavior as far back as middle school—can suddenly end a career, not only prohibiting future casting and brand endorsements, but prompting advertising penalties that can leave even the most popular actor in debt.
Kim was at the height of his career after appearing in Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, which became one of the highest-rated cable series ever in Korea. Fans fondly referred to him as “good boy,” a nickname he acquired after playing the second lead in the Netflix drama Start Up.
MORE FOR YOU
Despite his previously pristine reputation, the accusation led to Kim being dropped from the popular reality show Two Days and One Night, which he appeared on since 2019. He was also replaced in two upcoming film projects, Two O’Clock Date and Dog Days, both of which are romantic comedies. Multiple brands, including the facial mask brand Miima, Domino’s Pizza
When the scandal broke the actor released a statement via his agency, Salt Entertainment, saying, “I and the person were in a relationship exchanging good feelings. Over the course of the relationship, I hurt her due to my mistakes and inconsiderate actions. I wanted to directly apologize to her in person, but I failed to do so and am waiting for the time when I can do so.”
His apology was understood by some as an acknowledgement of her claims. However, the Korean newspaper Dispatch subsequently printed articles with multiple text conversations between Kim and his ex-girlfriend, in which it became apparent that Kim may have been unfairly accused. In those text messages, Kim referred to the pregnancy as a blessing and talked about marriage. The text messages suggested the breakup was not about the pregnancy, did not happen immediately after the abortion, and also implied ongoing issues of trust between the partners inevitably led to the breakup. The ex-girlfriend, later identified as former newswoman Choi Young-ah, issued a public apology for the situation, characterizing it as a misunderstanding.
Domino’s Pizza and Miima have reinstated the actor’s ads.
Jeanie Y. Chang, an Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) mental health expert, hosts Noona’s Noonchi, a YouTube channel in which she uses Korean dramas to address mental health issues. Calling out—and cancelling—celebrities because of their behavior is an international phenomenon, but according to Chang, the speed with which Kim was canceled reflects Korean cultural norms such as shaming, saving face, showing face and perfectionism.
“The system—production companies, advertising companies—were quick to cancel him, literally taking away his livelihood in such a short period of time,” said Chang. “This sent a message to people that he’s the problem.”
It’s not the first career-damaging scandal in Korean media this year and, as a therapist, Chang worries about the effects of cancellation and ridicule on Korean actors’ mental health.
“Some companies who chose to un-cancel him have shared they looked at the actor himself – who he is, what he has done, his attitude, his demeanor, his character and chose to keep him based on their own experience with him as their brand ambassador,” said Chang. “While this was a positive move to keep him in Sad Tropics, it’s not enough because, again, the wellbeing of an actor is at stake.”
Sad Tropics will be directed by Park Hoon-jung, who produced the films New World and The Witch: Part 1. Sad Tropics is the story of an aspiring boxer born to a Korean father and Filipino mother. Kim’s character comes to Korea to look for his father. It will be the actor’s first film role.
