Jisoo is facing backlash after director Kim Byung Woo explained why he cast her in Omniscient Reader: The Prophet.
Kim said he wanted “someone who would give their all” and praised Jisoo’s passion and hard work during script readings and preparation. He added he was “very satisfied with her performance” despite the role not being large.
The film, releasing July 23, stars Jisoo alongside Lee Min Ho and marks her first leading movie role after a 2023 cameo.
But Korean netizens quickly pushed back. A viral post on The Qoo questioned if effort alone justifies casting, saying hard work is expected of all actors. Others accused the director of casting Jisoo to lure international fans.
Some harsh comments read:
- “Are other actors not trying hard, then?”
- “That’s such a ridiculous reason.”
- “Trying hard isn’t enough. You have to be good. Just hearing she’s in it made me lose all interest.”
- “She really can’t act, sigh…”
Fans came to Jisoo’s defense, urging others not to judge before the movie’s release.
Kim also addressed concerns about Jisoo’s character wielding a gun in the trailer, promising it will “make sense once you see it in the film.”
Director Kim Byung Woo:
I believed it was right to work with someone who would give their all. When I first met with Jisoo, she showed great passion, and during the script readings and prep sessions, she worked extremely hard… Jisoo put in a lot of effort to suit the character, and now, I’m very satisfied with her performance.
