A 2017 press interview clip featuring actors Kim Soo Hyun, Jo Woo Jin, and the late Sulli has resurfaced online as the ongoing controversy over the film Real and the people connected to it has been rekindled.
As per TopStar News, a YouTube Shorts video featuring a segment from SBS's Entertainment Night has gone viral, amassing more than 8.9 million views.
The resurfaced footage shows an interview conducted in promotion of Real, a 2017 film that starred Kim, Sulli, and Jo.
The renewed interest comes as Sulli's older brother continues to raise concerns about the film and its production, particularly in relation to Kim and director Lee Ro Be (also known as Lee Sa Rang) of GOLD MEDALIST.
In the interview, Kim Soo Hyun introduces the movie by calling it "like a gift set."
However, Jo Woo Jin's follow-up remark has sparked speculation online.
"I could tell that Kim Soo Hyun was fully immersed in this movie," Jo said. He then added, "It's of the Kim Soo Hyun, by the Kim Soo Hyun, for the Kim Soo Hyun."
Kim, visibly caught off guard, responded, "Sunbae-nim, if you say that in such monotone, it's scary."
At the time, the exchange was perceived as light-hearted.
However, years later, viewers are questioning the intent behind Jo's words, with many wondering if he was subtly criticizing Kim's creative control or behavior on set.
Comments on the viral video express varying interpretations of the moment.
"So he meant Kim Soo Hyun decides everything. I actually wondered about this interview back then," one commenter wrote. "I thought, maybe, Kim Soo Hyun, being the lead, was power tripping or something. I didn't know there was this hidden meaning at the time."
"Jo Woo Jin's words really had some weight to them... Poor Sulli," another said.
In the same interview, Jo expressed sincere admiration for Sulli's performance, highlighting her role as the most memorable part of the film for him.
"The most memorable character from Real for me is Choi Jin Ri for the role of Song Yoo Hwa," Jo said, referring to Sulli by her birth name, despite her having a smaller role than Kim.
The resurfacing of the clip has fueled the continued scrutiny around Real, with old reviews and production decisions now being put under the microscope in light of the tragic passing of the late idol actress and her family's new allegations.
To date, neither Kim Soo Hyun nor GOLD MEDALIST has offered further comment on the resurfaced interview or the reignited criticism of the film.
