A scandal can hurt a k-drama star's career but not necessarily end it. There are a few stars that managed to survive and even thrive after scandals with the potential to derail their career.
Jang Hyuk, who now stars in "Fated To Love You," tried to illegally avoid the draft. All South Korean males between the ages of 18 and 35 must serve two years of military duty. He and several other celebrities were accused of taking a drug that rendered them physically unfit for duty. He apologized publicly and enlisted. The scandal was not good for his career but it did not end it.
Song Seung Hoon was one of the other actors caught trying to evade the draft. He also issued a public apology. He said that he did so because he worried that serving in the military would end his acting career. He served his two years of compulsory duty and returned to find his career had not ended. He was recently in the film "Obsession."
Actress Lee Mi Sook was caught in a scandal involving an alleged much younger lover. The man in question was said to be 17 years younger than she was and worked as a bar host. It was rumored that she helped him financially while she was still married. Lee became involved in a lawsuit with her former agency because they claimed that she owed them money. It was money they used to pay off her alleged lover. Lee Mi Sook's plastic surgeon husband divorced her, but her career survived. She was last seen in the dramas "Miss Korea" and "You're The Best Lee Soon Shin."
Lee Ji Ah was secretly married to k-pop icon Seo Taiji. She and her "Athena" co-star Jung Woo Sung were photographed vacationing together in Paris and admitted to being a couple. But she neglected to tell him that she was ever married to Seo Taiji. When the news broke that she was suing her ex for alimony, she and Jung Woo Sung broke up. But Lee Ji Ah kept acting. She was last seen in "Thrice Married Woman."
Last year it seemed as if the arrest of Cha Seung Won's son might affect his career. His son, Cha Noah was arrested for drug possession and for allegedly assaulting a girl. His son received a 10-month sentence for drug possession but the assault charges were dropped. At the time Cha Seung Won apologized for his son's behavior and said that as a father he was responsible for raising him wrong. His career did not suffer. He currently stars in "You're All Surrounded" and is also in the film "Man In High Heels."
Park Shi Hoo had just finished filming his successful drama 'Cheomdamdong Alice" when a rookie actress accused him of sexually assaulting her. He claimed their relations were consensual. The charges were eventually dropped but the actor has not worked in Korea since the accusations were made. He considered a role in the series "Golden Cross" but public response may have caused KBS to retract their casting offer. He has focused on work in other countries. A previously produced film was released in Japan and he will appear in the Chinese film "Fragrant Scent."
It may be a while before he can work in Korea again.
