Kim Nam Gil calms fans who are debating whether or not he should star in the K-Drama adaptation of the controversial webtoon "Get Schooled."
The series has faced significant backlash due to its problematic themes, leading to its removal from the Naver WEBTOON platform for international readers.
The webtoon, which has been viewed more than 99 million times, set off alarms among readers who condemned a "sudden, overtly racist plotline," leading the creators of the webtoon to issue apologies.
Fandom responses escalated upon the initial announcement that a K-Drama based on the webtoon would be developed, so much so that many fans urged Kim to turn down any involvement.
Kim wrote in an Instagram update on Thursday that he had been sent the script for "Get Schooled" but did not have time to read it yet because he is busy with another project, "The Fiery Priest."
"Hello, this is Kim Nam Gil. Today is a fantastic day. I return to you all as Priest Kim Hae Il on The Fiery Priest," he wrote. "I heard that a lot of you have grown worried over a casting news article that got published yesterday. While it is true that my management company received an offer for a role on the K-Drama 'Get Schooled,' I have not had the time to personally review the material."
He went on to say, "Everyone involved with the cast and production of 'The Fiery Priest' is actually putting in a lot of effort to finish the final shoot because it cannot afford to let down fans who loved the show and waited for this second season for so long."
The adaptation will be directed by Hong Jong Chan of Netflix originals, including Juvenile Justice and Mr. Plankton. Details outside of the show's plot and supporting cast members are scarce as of yet, however.
Following an outcry from fans regarding Kim Nam Gil's participation in the drama adaptation, many commented that the actors should take the feelings of the fans, especially female and international ones, into consideration, given the complicated implications of his casting in a series that already comes with a history that fans have called problematic.
Here's what some fans are saying in the online community forum theqoo:
