Director Kim Byung-woo Addresses Casting Controversy of BLACKPINK's Jisoo in 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint'

Director Kim Byung-woo of 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint' has addressed the controversy surrounding the casting of BLACKPINK's Jisoo and changes to character settings.

Recently, I met with Director Kim at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, to discuss the upcoming film 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint'.

The film is a fantasy action story where the world of a novel, which had been serialized for over a decade, becomes reality on the day it concludes. The original web novel, sharing the same name, is a mega-hit with over 300 million views.

'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint' marks Jisoo's official film debut. She plays the role of Lee Ji-hye, a high school student who follows her mentor Yoo Joong-hyuk, portrayed by Lee Min-ho.

Jisoo has previously faced criticism for her acting skills. Director Kim stated, "Despite various criticisms, I believe it was a well-made casting decision. Lee Ji-hye is a character that might have been overlooked if not played by Jisoo. She aligns with the message shown by Kim Dok-ja at the end of the film. We needed to create a scene where the character exudes strength, so we couldn't take any character lightly. After much deliberation, we decided to cast Jisoo."

Although Lee Ji-hye's screen time is limited, she has become a hot topic. Director Kim commented, "She's a highly recognized actress. Nothing was cut; it was the exact amount we decided on in the script." He added, "Jisoo's appearance comes quite late in the film, which is unconventional in scriptwriting. In the original, she plays a significant role, but her appearance couldn't be moved earlier due to the physical setting required for her character's introduction. We thought a well-known actress would enhance her presence."

In the original, Lee Ji-hye is supported by a character known as 'the backer', who is Admiral Yi Sun-sin, and she uses a sword as her weapon. However, in the film, her weapon is changed to a gun, sparking controversy among fans for distorting the original. Director Kim explained, "Many characters in the original use swords, but for the film's visual battle scenes, we wanted to differentiate each character. We thought it would make the action more exciting. Our idea was to diversify beyond just swords."

'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint' is set to release on the 23rd.

By Ji-won Kim, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr