Dayum, if SBS wanted to win douchebag television station of the year awards, it just vaulted to the lead today. SBS announced via a press release that, after its weekend drama Five Fingers premiered this past weekend to solid starting ratings, lead actress Eunjung will be leaving the drama and her role of Hong Da Mi will be recast. Her character is still in the child actor stage and she was supposed to start filming today. Of course this is due to the recent T-ara scandal (with bullying rumors and a member leaving the group), but what I don’t get is that the scandal is going on its 3rd week and now SBS wants to change actresses? What the fuck? The drama has already started airing! Eunjung is in all the promotional materials! They could have fired her when the scandal broke and then proceeded to recast her. To do so after the drama has started airing is insane. I repeat – insane!!!
A few notable lead actor changes in recent memory – Kim Jae Won had to bow out of Me Too, Flower! after injuring himself in a motorcycle accident, but it was early on in filming and no promo materials had been shot yet; and I remember Kim Min Jung leaving Hero and being replaced by Yoon So Yi, supposedly because of an injury as well but the situation was murky, and promo materials were shot so I still see Hero stuff floating on the web with Kim Min Jung next to Lee Jun Ki as opposed to Yoon So Yi. What’s worse about this situation is that Core Contents Media has just released its own statement claiming that Eunjung did not agree to leave the drama and they learned that she may be replaced by Jin Se Yeon via the same press release SBS sent out. Ooops.
No matter what the reasons were for replacing Eunjung, which is what SBS did, no one will believe for a minute she decided to leave the drama after enduring the scandal for weeks and the drama premiering to good ratings and buzz, it was such a shitty thing to do this way. Supposedly the reason was that sponsors for the drama had been pressuring SBS to replace Eunjung since the scandal has tarnished her bankability, and SBS finally couldn’t handle pressure and finally sacked her. My one experience with Jin Se Yeon was pretty much a total meh, as she was the younger version of Han Ji Hye in The Duo and she was easily the worst of the four teenage actors. Since I don’t follow Bridal Mask, I have no clue if she’s improved any as the leading lady opposite Joo Won in that drama.
This may be an acting improvement, replacing an idol with a young actress, but I can’t even get past how SBS comes off smelling like shit for publicly firing its lead actress and pretending that it didn’t. What’s wrong with firing an actor or actress? Nothing, SBS is the boss and pays the bills, it can fire and hire at will. But to pretend otherwise makes me sneer at their fakeness and hypocrisy. Eunjung looks miserable and tired at the FF press conference last week so maybe this will work out the best for her. She can take some time away from the entertainment limelight and get some likely much needed rest. Good luck to Eunjung, I hope the cast and crew of FF doesn’t suffer for what SBS did, and the network can go pound sand for all I care.
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Huh. I though she quit? Like you said, it doesn't make sense for them to fire her at this point. Either way, this sucks for her and everyone else involved.
Apparently once Jin Se Yeon agreed to take the role they dropped Eunjung. According to the the news that has been released Eunjung had been practicing lines with Ji Chang Wook for hours on the same day that SBS or the PD was approaching Jin Se Yeon to possibly replace her. Once Jin Se Youngave the okay to take the role they dropped Eunjung and announced it via press release.
Jin Sae Yeon has been alright so far in Bridal Mask. Not stellar, nor captivating, but just ok. I think I have gripes with her character so I'm in no way interested in her acting. Since Bridal Mask is still currently airing, it makes me wonder how she'll balance two dramas at the same time.
considering bridal mask is her first major role in k-drama land i consider her acting (ESP. for her age--19) quite impressive. I don't find myself bracing or cringing as i do with some newcomers, that should say alot.
If you compare it to a few other actresses who have been in the business for a while, sadly, she would make them look like nothing.
That being sad, her acting alone is not enough to consider A-list yet.
She still has a long way to go.
Park Shin Hye was 19 when she acted in You're Beautiful. I think she was a lot better than Jin Sae Yeon. I think age isn't really a big factor. It's the amount of experience and exposure one gets. Of course, JSY still has a long way to go. Being in Five Fingers would be good for her so she can improve her craft. I can definitely say she improved in the course of the show. But it's not enough to make me want to tune in to her next dramas though.
therev is no way enjung will leave after attending the press con!! its for defo those sbs ppl!! the hell.. poor eunjung.. why is she the only open being harassed.. soyeon and hyomin are doing fine with their respected dramas!!ufff hate korean netizens.. they're the real bully!!
I'm really upset. I was really looking forward to Eunjung and Ji Hoon pairing together. I don't give a sh1t about the stupid scandal.
Well U or I may not give a shit abt the stupid scandal but korean audience does! And frm what I ve been reading, they ve pretty much shunned all members of T-ara. Not just that, the drama may not even get any ads/ sponsors or good TRPs coz of her, so dat ll b quite a loss. I dont want Ji Hoon's comeback drama to be affected by some idol grp scandal. Ofcourse the way she is being kicked off is indeed sad and unprofessional but production house will care only abt their drama. And anyway Jin Se Yeon is much much better than eunjung when it comes to acting.
From what I've heard Eunjung has really stepped it up since being in Queen Insoo. It's unfortunate that she can't display her new skills. I was looking forward to it.
I haven't even heard of this new actress. Maybe if they had removed Eunjung at the wake of scandal than they would've had more time to search for a better known actress.
You may not know her but right know she is the lead in Gaksital, a drama with ratings aroung 19%-20% in Korea, so she is known.
I see Gaksital, love it. Like people say, her role is not stellar, bt she's good. I think the role is not that great, but the character, not her as an actor. In real life she's such a sweetheart that I don't want her getting into this whole mess, and she still has two more weeks until Gaksital finish, that drama is NOT a walk in the park. She should get more rest before taking another role.
SBS sucks and the netziens are bullying Eunjung now and still they say as she was bullying Hwayoung. Their the biggest bullies take a look at yourself you hyprocrites who are faceless and have zero integrity. You can hide from ppl but God knows your faces and you will be accountable for your harsh words and bullying. Eunjung get some needed rest and come back stronger. Eunjung fighting!
This is horrible SBS is shit! Like seriously they even released a statement before saying how they cast eunjung and that it's final. I'm so pissed now! Well said koala! What's even more upsetting was eunjung was trained in acting and that her dream from the beginning was being an actress and now it's gone.
Unfortunately, CCM is terrible company and I'm never quite sure when they're telling the truth...so I'm not quite sure what to make of this. Maybe it's SBS being jerks, maybe it's not. It doesn't make sense for SBS to waste time and money changing the cast unless they were pressured by an outside source.(Sponsors possibly?)
Regardless, I feel bad for the entire drama and Eunjung.
Eunjung even released a statement saying that the other day she was just practicing her lines and had no idea she was dropped from the drama until SBS released it to the public.
What you said is true maybe SBS was pressured but they could have done a enter job at fixing it. They should've told Eunjung beforehand before saying that she supposedly "dropped" the project.
possibly the sponsors ... they're the one buying the product. I think SBS was really trying to negotiate with them, but in the end it's purely business.
I was looking forward to watch Eunjung on screen again. I do agree that this will definitely give her the time to rest and get away from the netizens and scandal. hopefully she'll be back soon with a new drama in the future!
I like EJ since Coffee House and planned to watch her sageuk because what I saw of her acting was good.
I dropped this drama, which is a shame because I really liked it, but will not support such asshattery from station execs.
I feel so sorry for her, regardless of what happened to warrant these vague bullying accusations. I wouldn't wish that sort of public humiliation on my worst enemy.