Lee Sun-kyun's Drug Scandal Threatens Co-star's K-drama Career

Parasite actor Lee Sun-kyun is currently embroiled in drug allegations, causing a halt in his upcoming project and suspending the on-screen roles of his co-star Yoo Jae-myung. Lee rose to fame in Hollywood following his role in the award-winning film Parasite, but had already achieved recognition in South Korea. However, he is currently under investigation by the police regarding the drug allegations, along with others.

Allegations against a celebrity can have devastating consequences for their careers, as many fans of K-content are well aware. These allegations have already resulted in Lee being excluded from one of his upcoming projects. However, they have also had a negative impact on his co-star, actor Yoo Jae-myung.

Yoo, who recently appeared in Netflix's Song of Bandits and gained recognition for his role in Itaewon Class, finds himself at a critical juncture. Lee's predicament has caused a halt in Yoo's K-drama projects as well.

Yoo Jae-myung was set to star in No Way Out with Lee Sun-kyun

The future of the thriller K-drama No Way Out is unclear as actor Lee was removed with the cast and crew having already begun filming.

Lee has been removed from the cast of the K-drama "No Way Out" due to drug allegations. The filming of three episodes had already begun, but now it is likely that the show will either be completely revamped or cancelled. Because of this situation, Yoo, who is Lee's co-star, is also in a risky position as the future of the K-drama is uncertain. It is highly probable that the completed scenes will need to be reshot and a new lead actor will need to be found to replace Lee.

The plot of "No Way Out" revolves around a monstrous killer who is released after serving 13 years in prison. A reward is offered to the public for his murder. Yoo was supposed to play the role of Kim Kook-ho, the criminal, while Lee was cast as Baek Joong-sik, the character tasked with protecting Kook-ho from the public.

No Way Out isn’t the only K-drama the actor was cast in

Lee’s claims have resulted in the indefinite suspension of the movie Land of Happiness. This film revolves around a lawyer who encounters difficulties with a case that deeply impacted the nation. Both Lee and Yoo were supposed to appear in this movie. Since Land of Happiness has already completed filming, the release date remains uncertain.

After Lee's drug allegations and subsequent removal from No Way Out, Yoo, the actor, also faced delays in his other K-drama roles as a result of his co-star's allegations.

As per a K-drama account on X (Twitter), Yoo encountered difficulties with his involvement in Firemen and Season of You and Me. Fireman, a forthcoming 2023 K-drama centered around a seasoned firefighter and a rookie who clash following the loss of a team member, had cast Yoo as the fire brigade's leader.

However, the release of Firemen had to be delayed due to an unfortunate incident involving the lead actor, Kwak Do-won, who was recently implicated in a drunk driving case. KoreaJoongAng Daily reported that the actor was discovered asleep in his car, obstructing traffic. Subsequent breathalyzer testing positively confirmed his elevated blood alcohol content.

Song Joong-ki has stepped down from his leading role in the Korean film Season of You and Me, with Kim Dong-hee replacing him. In 2022, the actor faced accusations of school bullying, and although he later apologized, the status of the movie remains uncertain. Currently, Season of You and Me does not have a confirmed release date. Furthermore, actor Yoo was initially set to play a supporting role as a manager in the biopic. For more K-drama content, visit our hub, and to see what fans think of the cast of Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, click here. Additionally, you can find details about the Trigger K-drama here.