The controversy around “Real” resurfaced amid Kim Soo-hyun’s ongoing legal battle with the late Kim Sae-ron’s family. Unexpectedly, Sulli’s older brother, Mr. A, stepped into the fray, targeting the bed and nude scenes Sulli performed in “Real“. His issue stemmed from the fact that “Real” was essentially a “family project”, with Kim Soo-hyun as the lead and his cousin Lee Ro-be (formerly Lee Sa-rang) as both director and CEO of the production company.
Mr. A demanded clarification on several points: That the explicit content in Sulli and Kim Soo-hyun’s bed scene wasn’t detailed in the original script; That although a body double was reportedly available, Sulli was allegedly pressured on set into performing the scene herself; That the production claimed the body double was sick on the day of filming, though funeral attendees said the double was in fact present.
Director Lee Jung-sub, who originally wrote and was set to direct “Real” before stepping down due to creative differences, also reignited controversy by retweeting posts critical of Kim Soo-hyun’s alleged media manipulation, saying, “_Same disgraceful tactics… trauma XX._”
Mr. A didn’t stop there. He went on a rampage, name-dropping celebrities, exposing private lives of Sulli’s close friends and former lovers, and even invoking other deceased individuals, drawing criticism for disrespecting the dead.
On April 2, Gold Medalist, co-founded by Kim Soo-hyun and Lee Ro-be, issued a firm rebuttal.
“Sulli was fully aware of the scenes prior to filming. The script delivered to her agency clearly included the bed scene, and character guides outlined the level of nudity involved. This was also documented in her contract. Both Sulli and her agency thoroughly reviewed the content before agreeing to participate.”
They even included statements from “Real“’s assistant director Kim Joong-ok and scripter Lee Joon-hyun to support their claims.
Yet on April 3, Mr. A responded, “I’ve seen Gold Medalist’s statement. Turns out the person on set wasn’t a body double but a standing actor. Though I had initially raised questions about coercion, I came to understand based on multiple testimonies that there was none. I believe the scene was shot according to the storyboard.”
Despite this seeming acknowledgment, he continued his barrage, “If nothing was wrong with the filming process, please also be transparent about why director Lee Jung-sub stepped down. I heard that 80% of the film was completed under his direction. For someone to walk away after filming that much is hard to understand. If I’m wrong, please clarify.”
Ironically, Mr. A’s public attacks have caused “Real” a film released eight years ago in 2017 and rated 19+ to surge on Netflix, now ranking #2 in “Korea’s Top 10 Today”. What’s tragic is that this resurgence stems not from artistic merit, but from sensationalistic curiosity fueled by Sulli’s own brother.
More concerning is Mr. A’s seeming obliviousness to how his behavior disrespects the memory of his sister. His careless use of real names, and the attention he’s drawn to scenes Sulli may not have wanted to be remembered for, highlight the unintended harm of his crusade.
Despite all this, Mr. A remains unapologetic, “_Just as you all have freedom of speech, so do I. I’m not doing this for any personal gain, and I’ll accept the criticism. If I’m the target, I’ll just watch and listen._” But perhaps it’s time he reflects deeply on the real meaning of this uncomfortable resurgence of “Real“, and how his actions may have only served to “kill” his sister a second time.