In the midst of renewed public attention, the 2017 movie 'Real', starring Kim Soo Hyun and f(x) member Sulli, is once more making headlines due to claims made by Sulli's brother, Choi. The allegations involve forced nudity, alterations in the film's direction, and internal conflicts behind the scenes.
On April 4th KST, reports confirmed that the original director and screenwriter of the film, Lee Jung Sub, resigned prior to completion of filming due to internal disputes and suspicions of financial irregularities. These concerns included possible embezzlement and inflated production costs while leading production company A Corp., subcontracted by 'Real'’s official production company.
Although the accusations were not addressed publicly, it is believed that a confidentiality agreement was reached to allow the film's release, which reportedly cost 11.5 billion won (around $7.8 million USD) to produce. Additionally, there were concerns that Lee may have secured sponsorships from competitors of the film's primary investor, raising conflicts of interest.
Following Lee's departure, the film's editing and promotion duties were overseen by Lee Love (credited as director Lee Sa Rang), Kim Soo Hyun's cousin and manager of Gold Medalist agency. This shift raised suspicions that Lee Love strategically took control of the production.
Years later, Choi resurrected the controversy by alleging that the nude and bed scenes performed by Sulli, which have been the focus of recent discussions, were not initially outlined in the script and caused her considerable distress. He questioned why Sulli had to undertake the scenes herself, despite the presence of a body double.
In response, Gold Medalist clarified that Sulli had been informed of the scenes from the casting stage and that the body double was used for camera setup purposes only, not as a replacement for Sulli. They asserted that Kim Soo Hyun had no involvement in the direction or editing decisions.
Lee Jung Sub recently spoke out via his X (formerly Twitter) account, stating that he was excluded from the set during initial filming stages and denied involvement in the film's outcome. However, insiders claim Lee directed the controversial scenes and was in discussion with Sulli about them.
Choi has demanded transparency regarding the director change, questioning the removal of a director who had completed 80% of filming. Regarding embezzlement claims, Lee refuted them, stating that they were used to pressure him during disagreements.
Gold Medalist declined to offer further comments, citing an inability to respond to queries. These revelations have reignited discussions on accountability, consent in artistry, and power dynamics in South Korea's film industry, especially amid the unresolved trauma related to Sulli's final years.