Real: Was Kim Soo Hyun’s film’s director replaced over embezzlement and not Sulli’s explicit scene? Here’s what we know

Nearly a decade after the discharge of the formidable however vexed 2017 film Staunch, new revelations have attain to light, offering a tremendously assorted memoir of the circumstances that led to director Lee Jung Sub’s surprising exit from the production. Long believed to have stepped down amid controversy surrounding a nude scene keen unhurried actress Sulli, it now appears to be like that his removal used to be rooted in a prime financial dispute keen allegations of embezzlement and breach of have confidence.

On April 4, Hankyung published a detailed investigative document uncovering what it claims used to be the real reason on the assist of the mid-production shake-up that rocked the film. According to sources cited by the outlet, Lee Jung Sub, who had on the starting up taken on both screenwriting and directing responsibilities, used to be compelled off the mission shut to the dwell of main filming after the production company found financial irregularities tied to his management company, known as “Company A.”

The document states that Company A allegedly overbilled the production for operational costs and sought unauthorized corporate sponsorships, including one from a rival of the film’s main investor, without subtle consent from the production company. These actions reportedly raised crimson flags and created tension between the ingenious personnel and traders, one way or the other prompting the director’s removal from the mission.

With Staunch carrying a appreciable production price range of roughly 11.5 billion KRW (roughly 8 million USD), both the production company, Staunch Culture Alternate Special Company, and Lee Jung Sub reportedly agreed to enter into a confidentiality pact on the time. This non-disclosure settlement used to be intended to present protection to the film’s already-precarious release prospects and mitigate extra distress to the reputations of those eager.

Within the wake of Lee’s departure, directing duties had been assumed by Lee Ro Bae, moreover identified as Lee Sa Rang, a cousin of actor Kim Soo Hyun. The extraordinary swap in ingenious management, although kept under wraps throughout the film’s promotion, has since drawn scrutiny and grow to be the topic of speculation, in particular because the film struggled to fulfill main and industrial expectations upon release.

For years, rumors have persevered that Sulli’s controversial bed scene played a characteristic in the directorial shake-up. The topic fair not too long in the past resurfaced following renewed allegations made by Sulli’s brother, who urged the actress used to be coerced into filming intimate scenes under stress. The unhurried basic particular person, identified for her outspoken and boundary-breaking image, confronted heavy public scrutiny for her performance in Staunch, and issues relating to the circumstances surrounding the filming continue to distress her supporters.

On the opposite hand, Hankyung’s document appears to be like to redirect the memoir away from ingenious controversy and toward financial misconduct because the main reason for the disruption. Talking with the outlet, Lee Jung Sub denied all accusations of wrongdoing and characterised the topic as an impact fight masked as a licensed field.

“I left because the vision used to be entirely misaligned. Embezzlement claims are absurd, as a rookie director with out a sleep, what could maybe I in truth have stolen? The traders controlled all the pieces,” he outlined. Lee extra alleged that he used to be made a scapegoat amid production tensions, stating, “They could maybe body even a misplaced pencil as embezzlement to stress me. Field of industrial politics are the whole similar,” as quoted by Kbizoom.

Despite Lee’s insistence that his departure used to be creatively driven, the resurfaced allegations have reignited debate over the vexed legacy of Staunch. The film, which blended psychological thriller formula with a noir-impressed visible subtle, starred actor Kim Soo Hyun and marked the characteristic film debut of Sulli. With its advanced dwelling and stylized execution, Staunch used to be a highly anticipated mission, however it absolutely one way or the other did not are residing up to expectations, drawing criticism for its memoir incoherence and controversial scenes.

Sulli’s untimely passing in 2019 has handiest deepened the emotional weight hooked up to the film, with followers and observers persevering with to glance how she used to be handled throughout production and in the years that adopted. As public passion in the film’s on the assist of-the-scenes story is reignited, it stays to be considered whether or not extra knowledge will attain to light or if those eager will resolve to tell extra.