Hyun Bin’s 'Worst Role' Yet? Remastered 'My Lovely Sam Soon' Draws Criticism

The 2005 MBC hit K-drama My Lovely Sam Soon, also known as My Name is Kim Sam Soon, has come back as a remastered "Director's Cut" in 2024. While this show was once a fan favorite, it has now stirred up controversy.

The viewers have pointed out the problems with Hyun Bin's character Hyun Jin Heon, and whose behavior can be considered unacceptable by today's standards of morality.

Originally, everything was okay, and the public reacted to it very positively when My Lovely Sam Soon was released.

It was a widely discussed TV-series that received 15 awards and 12 nominations. The peak viewership was 50%, and the average share of viewing was 36.9%.

The main character is Kim Sam Soon, an overweight and tough girl who has feelings and life problems that are deeply echoed by female audiences.

"My Lovely Sam-Soon" became a successful web drama in the 2024 remaster, available on the Wave streaming service, which is the primary platform for young people.

SEE: 'My Lovely Sam Soon' Cast Update 2021: Here's What's New For Kim Suna, Hyun Bin and Jung Ryeo Won 16 Years Later

However, it didn't come without controversy, especially when it comes to reimagining the image of the male lead character.

Hyun Jin Heon in the original version was a rich, harsh, but romantic hero. While on the reedited version Hyun Jin Heon became problematic. Back then, he seemed charming, but now, due to his aggressive and controlling behavior towards Kim Sam Soon in several episodes, people have stopped accepting him as romantic in the re-edited version.

"Hyun Jin Heon was always a red flag. I never understood why people saw him as a charming character. It's the worst role Hyun Bin has ever played," a user in theqoo commented.

For example, they showed an episode that highlighted Hyun Jin Heon's violent reaction to the mention of his ex-girlfriend, Kim Sam Soon.

During the press conference, Director Kim Yoon Chul shared his thoughts on the process of remastering the main character's work. Many scenes with Hyun Jin Heon were removed from the new edit to align with today's social standards.

"Looking back, the macho male lead, a typical wealthy 'savior,' is too rough for the current viewers. Hyun Jin Heon's attitude is far from being accepted today, so the story tries not to harm it, but to make the least adjustments possible.This is a social response today, and everyone has to deal with it."

Nevertheless, such changes have not been well received by all viewers. Some comments labeled Hyun Jin Heon as a domestic abuser and a psychological manipulator.

Additionally, some of the viewers are wondring "why at first I thought it was good?. It has become evident that shifts in socialization and the increase in the number of female characters in Korean dramas has altered the portrayal of male protagonists.

Here are other comments:

The original version of "My Lovely Sam Soon" is available on Wave for those interested in comparing its unedited and reworked scenes.

SEE: 7 K-Dramas That Stood the Test of Time: 'Coffee Prince,' 'My Lovely Sam-Soon,' More

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This article was written by:

Rovelyn Barba