Categories: K-dramas

The Real Reason for Kim Jung Hyun’s Shocking Departure Midway Through MBC Drama Time Reportedly Due to Being Unable to Act with His Costar

I’ll preface this post by saying that I believe all the negative news stories coming out this week on K-actor Kim Jung Hyun is due to his contract dispute with his agency, he wants to end it early and sign with another agency reportedly Culture Depot which reps his former costar Seo Ji Hye. Kim Jung Hyun’s career was on fast track after he did School 2017 and the next year he was the male lead in high profile MBC melodrama Time. The media and public was perplexed seeing him at the press conference absolutely displaying what we moms of the world recognize as “shit face” when our teen son does not want to be there but is forced to. Then midway through the drama the production suddenly announced his departure, his male lead was being killed off to explain it, and his agency said it was due to severe mental wellbeing issues. Mental health is absolutely paramount and that was that for the incident since the drama was bringing in low ratings anyways. Now three years later K-ent is reporting that the real reason for his departure was being unable to act opposite his costar, namely female lead Seohyun. The problem kept getting worse as filming went on and the crew saw it, the screenwriter was asked to reduce the OTP romance to near zero with rewrites (which happened while she was in the hospital so that was awful sounding), and in the end it was untenable so Kim Jung Hyun and the production parted ways.

Seohyun was said to have cried a lot filming this drama both for the story and for the set mood where Kim Jung Hyun would not acknowledge her, sat in his van during breaks, and any romantic scene between them he appeared visibly uncomfortable filming it. Reportedly after shooting a scene with Seohyun after she touched his hand he then wiped it with a wet nap after which made her cry because who wouldn’t. Kim Jung Hyun apologized to Seohyun afterwards but nothing helped to change the disconnect. The rumor among the production team was that Kim Jung Hyun’s girlfriend at that time, another actress, was the reason for his awkward and uncomfortable attitude doing a romance drama but Kim Jung Hyun when asked if that was true said absolutely not. My take is that both could be true – what happened on the set of Time and the fact that this is all being revealed to destroy Kim Jung Hyun’s career now that he’s trying to leave his agency when before his agency covered for him. If it’s all true, he owes Seohyun a massive apology since as a ACTOR his sole job is to pretend shit and if he can’t do that then he’s just failed that particular project. But I do believe that people have feelings, emotions, and shortcomings and for whatever reason he could not do his job on Time then so be it, take responsibility and then move on since it’s all over and done with.

ockoala

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  • I guess I suspected it since he looked quite pissed during the press conference. Anyone can tell he was actively trying to avoid Seohyun. I never believed in the “method acting” excuse.

    • He seems to be talking to his time co-star casually in a lot of bts... He most of the times are very focused and even in some of the mr.queen bts he was focused when everyone around him was playing around... That doesn't mean he don't get along with his co-stars... Its pretty obvious that he has really good working relationship with shin Hye sun...
      Also when time was onair he wasn't a big enough actor to control the writer and director and the entire working process of the drama... I drama goes onair only after the shooting stars 2-3 months ago... If he was that much of an asshole on the sets the production house and channel could have easily replaced him before the drama went on air instead of killing his character off half way through and even blacklist him... Isn't mbc like a national channel... They have all the power to black list a rookie actor showing that much tantrums...

  • I'd be careful with relaying this information as actual news tbh. No dog in this fight, but his agency is clearly going scorched earth on him, so we can't tell for certain what's true and what's not. For what it's worth, I watched Mr Queen and liked it enough to check out the behind the scenes videos - initially I thought he wasn't compatible with his Shin Hye Sun, but quickly realized that he's just a very very awkward dude, with everyone tbh. As someone with anxiety myself, it doesn't seem too farfetched that baseline moderate anxiety could snowball into standoffish severe anxiety that's expressed in the way this is described tbh; I know I've had times like that, especially during periods significant professional/life change. That being said, if there's nothing we're missing behind the scenes, the behavior displayed here definitely warrants a sincere personal apology to Seohyun.

    • But his anxiety just makes him pissed off at one person?? And as others have said below, he recovered pretty quickly for such severe mental health problems.

      • He took 11 months break and it's not pretty quickly... My friend broke up with her 10yr old bf and she needed therapy but she came back to normal in 3-4 months even though she had to take therapy for an year... In his case it was just being too much into a character...

  • I'm not surprised at that time it was obvious he didn't like his leading lady.

    My take is the agency wants to destroy him since he wants to leave now. He should have just finished his contract before joining a new one. Contract disputes are messy and tend to harm the actor's careers.

  • Totally believing this rumor. No excuses can be made on his actions in that press conference. He was blatantly avoiding and being rude to Seohyun.

    That same year, all SNSD members have publicly poured encouraging messages in her social media account—the girls must have known. Seohyun has also kept in touch with their other co-stars, so the problem is clearly not her.

  • Drama just keeps on coming. I guess Lydia1's revelations have some merits so Koala took it to a higher level. Man, agency disputes are no joke. I wonder how many cover-ups have happened in the past to smooth over real scandals. How many lies have been told to the public to drive different narratives. Bring it on Lydia1, Pam & Koala. I'm not Korean so I'll enjoy the real life dramas than turds like Sisyphus.

  • Well, clearly this man needs a lecture in mannerism. I understand that he was going through an emotional period; however, that does not justify his actions. Additionally, Seohyun debut earlier than him, and he needs to show her respect as she is his sundae.

  • you don’t need to interact a ton behind the scenes just because you’re costars so I don’t get the deal over him sitting in his van. the other stuff is strange and doesn’t make sense even if he had a gf at the time.. why would that make things uncomfortable between him and his costar?? it’s a job.

    I don’t know this guy or his works but this all sounds like a smear campaign from his former company. why’s this being revealed now three years after the fact.

    • Like a smear campaign from his former company, yes maybe it's right, but don't say it's strange and doesn't make sense when he clearly made Seohyun cried everyday on set. I understand if he didn't want to interact with others, but can you imagine she saw directly he wipes his hand after she touched it, like is she a virus? It's totally rude. Lucky that Seohyun never said anything back then

    • Its reveal might be a smear campaign, but in the press con video he was undeniably rude and humiliated his co-star on screen, in front of many journalists. If he could do that in front of everyone, those staff account on what happened behind the scene is not far-fetched at all, tbh.

      And now their drama co-stars and staffs are liking & commenting encouraging messages to Seohyun, who just posted her thanks to people who love and support her (she is not directly mentioning this incident). So I guess that's pretty telling too.

  • I watched him in Waikiki after humongous hype from CLOY. Snooze fest for me. I wanna hear Seohyun's real side of the story. Was she being a mean girl on set to him? A guy won't hate on his co-star for no reason even if his jealous ex-gf was being bitchy about him smooching Seohyun. I remember Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte hated each other's guts during filming of I Love Trouble (irony of title). Character clash or something more than temper tantrums? Hmmmm.

    • If you say that guy won't hate for no reason..... By your logic why would seohyun be bitchy to him for no reason?

      • Me playing devil's advocate. If I say something controversial, more ppl will spill. Not a fan of both. So far, behind the scene staff are on Seohyun's side so evidence weighs on her favour as the nice girl. One point ticked off. So he's the bad guy here then unless more accusations spill forth. SNSD girls generally have good reputation like Yoona, Sunny, Yuri, Sooyoung, etc.

  • I feel so sorry for her if it’s the truth and if he indeed has mental issues, I hope he goes get adequate treatment. I feel so bad for her, it’s not right. She deserves all the hugs in the universe ❤️ My question right now is when will he speak up on this issue? Like share your thoughts so we can process everything better.

    • He is in contract termination dispute with his agency. His old contract expires in a month, his agency wants to extend it a year since he took 11 year break during Time. There's no way he'll talk before they settle it either way. So, nothing until sometime next month.

  • Is this a consistent history of behavior? Ive never seen articles from other sets?

    Because no offense, the “stank face” and “wiping hands” incidents sound weak sauce in this era of violent school bullying and harassment scandals. It makes me wonder why this specific drama at this specific time. Sus.

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