K-Netizens Express Sympathy for Jisoo After Director Kim Byung Woo Addresses Acting Controversy

BLACKPINK’s Jisoo has sparked a fresh wave of debate online after the director of Omniscient Reader: The Prophet, Kim Byung Woo, addressed the recent criticisms about her acting in the film. Speaking on July 17, Kim shared his thoughts on Jisoo’s casting and the backlash she faced.

He acknowledged the controversy, saying,

"I’m aware that there was criticism. But that also proved that she was well cast. If the role of Lee Ji Hye were played by someone else, the audience may not realize who she is. Just as Kim Dok Ja says in the film, no character must be taken lightly."

Kim also pointed out the challenges of adapting the story for the movie, explaining,

"Jisoo’s character appears quite late in the film’s storyline. But in the original novel, Lee Ji Hye is a very important character who undergoes significant development. Based on the film’s timeline, it wasn’t possible to move up her entry. So I thought that if she was played by someone widely recognizable, then it would make people aware that she was an important character."

His comments quickly caught the attention of Korean netizens, many of whom felt the director’s remarks suggested Jisoo was cast more for her popularity than her acting skills.

On various online forums, netizens reacted strongly:

"Jisoo must feel humiliated…"

"What is the director doing throwing shade like that…"

"Wow, the wording is hilarious…Basically, he’s saying it doesn’t matter because she doesn’t have much screen time."

"???? What kind of comment is that… Isn’t that disrespectful to Jisoo too..?"

"Everyone in the industry already knows, so I actually like that he’s being honest instead of blindly praising her."

"Why are directors giving interviews like this these days… while promoting their own movies too?"

"Fr, didn’t she appear for less than 5 minutes? Why bother showing up just to get hate unless she had a major role?"

"Despite being criticized for her poor acting, she still wants to be in it… If she really wanted it, they included her. If she didn’t want to, she wouldn’t even get that role with that level of acting…"

Some responses were more critical of the director himself:

"You can’t be an idol forever, especially not at 40…"

"Why did he give that kind of interview?"

"Noooo lol That’s harsh… All it does is confirm that her acting was bad in the movie…"

"Sounds like he’s saying the character is only getting attention because of Jisoo, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing."

"Isn’t it a problem that she’s getting acting criticism despite the small screen time? He cast her, so he should’ve directed her properly. Saying it’s okay because she doesn’t appear much, what kind of attitude is that? Sounds like they just cast her to ride on BLACKPINK’s fame."

"Why would a director say something like that… yikes."

"Still, how could he say that…And he’s the director…"

"Even from previous interviews about Jisoo, I thought the director doesn’t speak in a way that benefits the actor or the project."

"Lately, people are being so rude to Jisoo. It’s more than just criticism; It’s malicious and kind of mean…"

"What’s up with the director? Why is he talking like that??"

"The director really just killed the mood… At least pretend to defend the actor. Why speak like this about someone who appeared in your film?"

"I feel bad for Jisoo."

"Wow… I’m not even a fan of Jisoo, but I’m stunned."

"We all know she was cast for her popularity, but to go public and add the acting criticism on top of that…"

The debate remains heated, with fans and casual viewers alike wrestling with the question of whether Jisoo’s presence brought value to the movie or if her inclusion felt more like a strategic move to attract a wider audience. The director’s candid remarks only seem to have added fuel to the ongoing conversation about idol actors transitioning into film roles and how they’re treated by industry insiders and the public.