Actor Sentenced for Harassment Cast in New Play But Shortly Quits After Intense Backlash

Actor Lee Myeong-haeng, who served a sentence for sexual harassment, has officially withdrawn from his planned theater comeback following widespread public backlash.
Lee was set to appear in the play “Henry VIII,” which was scheduled to run from April 16 to 27 at the Gongyu Theater in Seoul’s Daehak-ro district. However, the announcement reignited controversy surrounding his past, particularly the 2018 case where a theater staff member accused him of sexual harassment, a claim that gained traction through social media and media coverage at the time.

Following the initial accusations, Lee stepped down from the cast of “Kiss of the Spider Woman” and has since maintained a low profile. His recent casting in “Henry VIII” was seen as an attempt at a comeback, but the news triggered outrage across the theater community and general public.
As criticism mounted, Lee Myeong-haeng released a statement via his agency, “I sincerely apologize for my past wrongdoings. I am truly sorry to those who experienced sexual discomfort and pain because of me. I also apologize to the production team of the current play for not being able to see it through to the end.”
Despite the apology, the backlash did not subside. Many critics emphasized that allowing a convicted offender to resume public-facing work, particularly in a sector as intimate as theater, sends the wrong message, especially as the industry continues to confront its own history with sexual misconduct.
The Eurasia Shakespeare Theatre Company, responsible for the production of “Henry VIII”, announced Lee’s removal in an official statement, “Our company does not condone sexual crimes in the theater industry in any way.”

They clarified that Lee had joined the cast through a last-minute audition and that the team had not performed thorough background checks at the time of casting. “We were completely unaware of his past until receiving external reports. Upon verification, we notified him of his immediate removal. We deeply apologize for failing to properly vet participants, which caused further pain to victims and supporters.”
Lee Myeong-haeng’s failed attempt to return to the stage highlights ongoing concerns about accountability in the arts. The swift and decisive response from the production team reflects a growing zero-tolerance stance within the industry, and a public unwilling to forgive and forget without genuine atonement and accountability.