Director Explains Why He Can’t Delete Yoo Ah-in from Movie Despite Drug Scandal, Still Vanished from Trailer

On the morning of March 7, the production report meeting for the movie “The Match” was held. Actors Lee Byung-hun, Ko Chang-seok, Hyun Bong-sik, Moon Jung-hee, Jo Woo-jin, and Director Kim Hyung-joo attended the event. The movie “The Match” (follows South Korea’s greatest Go (a strategy board game) legend, Cho Hun-hyun (played by Lee Byung-hun), as he trains his prodigy, Lee Chang-ho (set to be played by Yoo Ah-in), only to face him as a fierce rival after a pivotal loss.

Here director Kim explained the reason why Yoo Ah-in, who was involved in a drug scandal, vanished from the movie trailer, but will still appear as normal in the movie itself, saying, “In the case of promotional materials such as trailers, they will inevitably be exposed to an unspecified number of people, so I took that into consideration. In the case of the main feature, considering the story structure and the original planning intention, I didn’t think it would make sense to re-edit an already completed film.”

“It’s a story about two people, and the weight is on Cho Hoon-hyun, but I think there were structural problems in progressing the story without mentioning each other, and I want to believe that people will be able to sufficiently understand those parts once the film is released”, the director shared, adding, “From the director’s perspective, I didn’t want to bring up the wounds that were unintentionally inflicted before the film was released to the world. I think the right thing to do is to present the film to those who visit the theaters according to the original intention.”

Previously, the trailer for “The Match” has been released, showcasing Lee Byung-hun and teasing intriguing plot details. However, the absence of one of the main characters, played by Yoo Ah-in, has sparked curiosity among viewers.

Set for a March 26 release, the film’s newly unveiled trailer highlights Lee Byung-hun’s transformation into Cho Hun-hyun, with supporting performances from Go Chang-seok, Hyun Bong-sik, Moon Jung-hee, and Kim Kang-hoon. The story delves into Cho’s rise to national hero status after winning the World Professional Go Championship and his intense rivalry with Lee Chang-ho.

However, Yoo Ah-in, who plays the adult Lee Chang-ho, is completely absent from the trailer, with only the child version (played by Kim Kang-hoon) appearing. This omission has sparked speculation, with netizens commenting, “Not even a single glimpse of his face,” and “I hope he’s not completely edited out from the movie.”

“The Match” was scheduled to be released on Netflix in 2023. However, it has been temporarily put on hold and will inform again as soon as the specific release schedule is confirmed, following Yoo Ah-in’s drug use charges.

Meanwhile, Yoo Ah-in’s appeal trial for his drug scandal was held on February 18th, with the actor being sentenced to 1 year in prison, 2 years of probation, and a fine of 2 million won (approx. 1388 USD). He was also ordered to 80 hours of community service, 40 hours of drug treatment classes, and an additional fine of approximately 1.54 million won (approx. 1068 USD).

He made a high-speed screen comeback in about a month after his release, but the production team for “The Match” is thoroughly erasing Yoo Ah-in’s presence during the promotional process. Attention is thus being paid to how much of his role will be covered in the film.

Meanwhile, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office filed an appeal to the court, dissatisfied with the second trial’s verdict. Accordingly, Yoo Ah-in will have to wait for the Supreme Court’s decision.