ENTERTAINMENT
Korean Actress Ock Joo-hyun Addresses Casting Controversy with Lighthearted Social Media Post
On the 29th, Ock Joo-hyun posted a short video on her social media. In the video, she humorously stated, "Prisoner. My crime? Being Ock Joo-hyun." She smiled at the camera while dressed in a prison uniform.
The post drew attention as it was released shortly after Ock Joo-hyun became embroiled in a casting monopoly controversy. She is set to perform in the musical 'Anna Karenina' starting February 20. According to the initial casting schedule announced by production company Mast International, Ock Joo-hyun's performance frequency is significantly higher compared to other actors, sparking the 'monopoly controversy.'
Out of a total of 38 performances, Ock Joo-hyun is scheduled to appear in 23. In contrast, Lee Ji-hye, who is triple-cast for the same role, will perform 8 times, and Kim So-hyang will take the stage 7 times. Notably, 5 out of Kim So-hyang's 7 performances are matinees, leading to criticism that prime time slots are disproportionately allocated to a specific actor.
The production company stated, "Casting and scheduling are the exclusive rights of the production company and the original creators," adding, "The schedule was finalized after difficult negotiations with the licensor, considering variables such as reduced performance numbers and actors' schedules."
Reported by Kim Ji-won, TenAsia one@tenasia.co.kr
