Actress Yoon Eun Hye is apparently not afraid of a little controversy. The actress, who recently appeared in the film "Chronicles of a Blood Merchant" with Ha Ji Won and Ha Jung Woo, next plans to star in a romantic melodrama titled "After Love." The subject matter of the film is not controversial but there will be plenty of comments about her choice of co-star, actor Park Shi Hoo.
Park Shi Hoo has not worked a lot in the last year due to a scandal in which a young actress accused him of sexual assault. He claimed their relations were consensual and the accusations led to a string of lawsuits. The charges against the actor were eventually dropped but not before the damage to his career was done. He has not worked in a k-drama since his successful leading role in the comedy "Cheomdamdong Alice," which ended in early 2013. He has not appeared in a Korean film since the 2012 film "Confession of Murder," in which he played an author who claimed to be a serial killer.
Park Shi Hoo almost signed on to appear in the drama "Golden Cross." That might have been his comeback drama but public comments about his proposed casting were negative and he eventually declined the role.
The "After Love" investors were probably also worried about a similar reaction to the news that he would play the lead in their film. Rumors preceded the casting of "After Love" by several weeks, probably to test public reaction.
Despite mixed reactions, the film has attracted enough investors in China and Japan, where Park Shi Hoo remains popular. During his absence from the Korean entertainment industry, he appeared in a Chinese film titled "Fragrance." The film about a Chinese woman's romance with a Korean man, played by Park, did well at the Chinese box office.
Yoon Eun Hye is also popular in China due to her roles in the hit dramas "Coffee Prince" and "Goong," but none of her dramas have achieved the same success there since. She has not appeared in a drama since last year's fantasy comedy "Future's Choice" with co-stars Jung Yong Hwa and Lee Dong Gun.
Yoon Eun Hye will play Park Shi Hoo's love interest in the film, which begins shooting this month in both Korea and China. Uh Il Sun, who directed "In Between" and "Plastic Tree" will direct "After Love."
