The photos featured Yoon Ji-in, who recently worked with Ock Joo-hyun in the musical 'Bonnie and Clyde,' posing closely with her. Yoon Ji-in commented on Ock Joo-hyun, saying, "Our younger colleagues often wonder and worry, 'Can Ock Joo-hyun survive in this tough world without us?'"
Yoon Ji-in further described Ock Joo-hyun as "a diva queen, yet incredibly gentle and highly emotional." She added, "Even if someone were to slap her, she would think, 'They didn't mean it,' or 'Maybe it was a misunderstanding.' She's frustratingly kind, but you can't help but love her."
Previously, Ock Joo-hyun was embroiled in the 'Ockjangpan' controversy in 2022 when musical actor Kim Ho-young remarked, "The days of chaos are over; now it's Ockjangpan." This was interpreted as Ock Joo-hyun allegedly using her connections to influence casting decisions for the 10th-anniversary performance of the musical 'Elisabeth.' Notably, Ock Joo-hyun's student, Lee Ji-hye, was cast in the performance, along with several actors known to be close to her, fueling the controversy.
In January, Ock Joo-hyun faced another controversy over 'casting monopoly' in the musical 'Anna Karenina,' where she had a disproportionately high number of performances. The production company later clarified, "Casting and scheduling are the exclusive rights of the production company and original creators. Due to various factors like negotiations with licensors, reduced total performances, and actors' schedules, the schedule was finalized with difficulty."
Meanwhile, Ock Joo-hyun has been performing in 'Anna Karenina' since September 20th, engaging with audiences.
Reporter: Da-yeon Jeong, Ten Asia light@tenasia.co.kr