Celebrity

Yoo Ah-in’s Comeback Gains Momentum as “The Match” Tops Box Office, Joining Ha Jung-woo and Ju Ji-hoon in Redemption Arc

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Yoo Ah-in is proving that a scandal doesn’t have to mark the end of a career. His latest film, “The Match,” has emerged as a box office hit in South Korea, marking a remarkable comeback for the actor following a high-profile drug case that threatened to derail his career.

lee byung hun yoo ah in movie the match

According to the Korean Film Council, “The Match” attracted more than 427,000 viewers over the weekend (April 4–6), bringing its total to over 1.35 million. For the second consecutive week, the film maintained its top spot at the weekend box office, defying industry skepticism and controversy.

From Controversy to Comeback

Yoo Ah-in, who portrays Go prodigy Lee Chang-ho, starred opposite Lee Byung-hun in the film that dramatizes the real-life rivalry and mentorship between Lee and Go legend Cho Hoon-hyun. The film’s release had initially been clouded by Yoo’s indictment in 2023 for using seven illegal substances, including propofol.

yoo ah in 20125 thumnail

However, after receiving a suspended sentence in his second trial, Yoo returned to the screen with “The Match.” Thanks in large part to Lee Byung-hun’s solo promotional efforts, the film overcame public hesitation and is now nearing its break-even point of 1.8 million viewers, signaling a financial and reputational rebound for Yoo.

Following the Path of Redemption

Yoo’s return mirrors the redemption arcs of other Korean actors who weathered drug scandals and came back stronger.

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Ha Jung-woo, fined 30 million KRW in 2021 for unauthorized propofol use, took a two-year hiatus before returning with Netflix’s “Narco-Saints.” He has since directed and starred in the thriller “Lobby,” which currently holds second place at the Korean box office with over 160,000 viewers.

Narco-Saints

Ju Ji-hoon, sentenced in 2008 for ecstasy and ketamine use, made his comeback in 2012 with “Five Fingers.” He has since starred in major hits like “Along with the Gods” and “Dark Figure of Crime,” and recently earned a Baeksang Best Actor nomination for Netflix’s “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call”.

Ha Jung-woo and Ju Ji-hoon even co-starred in the 2023 film “Ransomed,” further cementing their return to the industry’s mainstream.

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A Divided Industry on Scandal and Redemption

While many stars have managed successful rebounds, G-Dragon, T.O.P, and PSY among them, not all careers survive. Figures like Don Spike and rapper Bully Da Ba$tard, who faced heavier sentences for more severe offenses, have effectively seen their entertainment careers come to a halt.

lee byung hun yoo ah in movie the match

In this context, Yoo Ah-in’s return with “The Match” is a notable turning point, not just for the actor but for the Korean entertainment industry at large. It raises the question: can talent and time truly outweigh controversy?

If the box office is any indication, the answer, for now, is yes.

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