Musical Star Ock Joo-hyun Faces Casting Controversy Amid 'Okjangpan' Scandal Resurgence

Musical actress Ock Joo-hyun is embroiled in a casting controversy, as the 'Okjangpan' scandal from four years ago resurfaces.

The incident dates back to 2022 when fellow musical actor Kim Ho-young posted on Instagram, "The era of Asari-pan is over. Now it's Okjangpan," along with a photo of an Okjangpan and a musical theater emoji.

The post was interpreted as suggesting that Ock Joo-hyun used her connections to unfairly influence the casting of the 10th-anniversary performance of the musical 'Elisabeth.' At that time, top musical actress Kim So-hyun was replaced by Ock's protégé Lee Ji-hye, and several actors close to Ock were cast, fueling the controversy.

Ock Joo-hyun responded, "It's not my place to explain the speculations and assumptions regarding the 'Elisabeth' casting," adding, "All authority over the multi-billion project belongs to its owner. Any explanation should be directed to the production company." She also announced plans to sue those responsible for the "rude speculations," stating, "Those who spread falsehoods with their mouths and fingers should be punished," hinting at legal action against Kim Ho-young.

Kim Ho-young's agency expressed regret, stating, "We cannot understand how Ock Joo-hyun made judgments based solely on unverified information," and lamented the damage to the actor's reputation without confirming the facts.

The 'Elisabeth' production company clarified, "Due to the nature of licensed musicals, casting for 'Elisabeth,' including lead and ensemble roles, cannot proceed without final approval from the original creators," addressing the casting controversy.

Ock Joo-hyun is set to perform in the musical 'Anna Karenina' starting February 20. However, the recently announced casting schedule by production company Mast International shows Ock's overwhelming presence, sparking a 'monopoly controversy.'

Out of a total of 38 performances, Ock Joo-hyun is scheduled for 23 shows. In contrast, Lee Ji-hye, who shares the same role, is set for 8 performances, and Kim So-hyang for 7, with 5 of Kim's shows scheduled for matinee performances, raising concerns about the distribution of prime-time shows.

The production company explained on the 28th, "Casting and scheduling are the exclusive rights of the production company and original creators," citing "numerous variables such as negotiations with the licensor, reduced total performances, and actors' schedules" as reasons for the challenging scheduling process."

By Da-yeon Jeong, TenAsia Reporter light@tenasia.co.kr