Park Hye-soo and Kim Hieora Make Their Comebacks Amid School Violence Controversies
The drama “Dear. M,” which had its broadcast canceled due to lead actress Park Hye-soo‘s school violence controversy, will finally meet viewers after four years. Similarly, actress Kim Hieora, who was at the center of her own school violence controversy, is set to return to the big screen in the occult film “Savior (tentative title).”
KBS Joy’s new Monday-Tuesday drama “Dear. M” (written by Lee Seul, directed by Park Jin-woo and Seo Joo-wan, produced by Monster Union and Playlist) will premiere on April 14 at 9:50 PM. The drama follows a campus mystery romance as it unravels the identity of the anonymous writer of a confession post on the community board of Seoyeon University. The drama is an extension of Lee Seul’s popular web drama “Love Playlist.”
The show was originally scheduled to air in 2021 but was canceled due to lead actress Park Hye-soo’s involvement in a school violence controversy. Now, after a four-year delay, the drama will finally be aired.
Meanwhile, Kim Hieora has announced her casting in the occult film “Savior” (directed by Shin Joon). The film tells the story of a family’s desperate struggle to escape a terrible curse in exchange for a miracle they desperately sought. Kim Hieora will play the role of Chun-seo, a single mother who becomes involved in a major incident after meeting a neighbor, Sun-hee (played by Song Ji-hyo).
Through her agency, Kim Hieora shared her thoughts on her comeback, “I’m grateful to be part of ‘Savior,’ a project I really wanted to be in. I did my best to give a good performance, so I ask for a lot of interest and expectations.”
Kim Hieora previously gained attention for her role as a school violence perpetrator and drug addict, Lee Sa-ra, in the popular Netflix series “The Glory,” starring Song Hye-kyo. However, in September 2023, Kim Hieora was embroiled in a school violence controversy. The irony of being praised for playing a school violence perpetrator while facing the same accusations made the issue even more significant.
A year later, her agency announced, “Kim Hieora and our company met with the concerned parties last year to resolve any misunderstandings and spent time clarifying their memories. We decided to support each other’s lives moving forward.” This statement marked the conclusion of the controversy.
As both actresses make their returns to the screen after facing significant controversies, it remains to be seen whether they can win back public support. The path to redemption will not be easy, as they will need to prove through their work and actions that they have learned from their past and regained the trust of their audiences. Only time will tell if viewers will embrace them once again or if the shadows of their previous controversies will continue to overshadow their careers.