Director Kim Byung-woo's recent explanation for casting BLACKPINK's Jisoo in the upcoming film "Omniscient Reader: The Prophet" has sparked fierce criticism from Korean netizens and fans of the original webtoon.
During a production briefing session on Tuesday, Kim cited Jisoo's "passion" and work ethic as primary reasons for her selection, saying it was the correct decision to work with the BLACKPINK member as she was someone who would give their all.
The controversy got worse when Kim acknowledged that while Jisoo's role as Lee Ji-hye isn't particularly significant in the film, he wanted someone who could "really capture the audience's attention." These comments didn't sit well with many Korean netizens, who questioned whether effort alone justified the casting, arguing that hard work is a trait all professional actors share.
Set for release on July 23, 2025, the fantasy action film is based on the popular webtoon "Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint" and stars Ahn Hyo-seop and Lee Min-ho in leading roles alongside Jisoo. With a production budget of approximately 30 billion won (around $22 million USD), the film has been highly anticipated as the BLACKPINK member's first leading movie role.
Beyond the casting controversy, fans also expressed outrage over changes to Jisoo's character. In the original webtoon, Lee Ji-hye is depicted with bangs and wields a sword, but the film adaptation shows Jisoo without bangs and using a gun instead. This alteration has particularly angered fans who view it as disrespectful to the source material.
During the press conference, Director Kim tried to justify the changes, explaining that he needed to showcase different styles of action scenes and weapons, noting that he made this decision after long thought about what could make the character stand out at the most dramatic moment, acknowledging that webtoon fans would likely prefer the original version.
The backlash extends beyond Jisoo's casting, with some critics claiming the entire adaptation is compromising historical and cultural elements to appeal to international audiences. Others have compared the situation to Jisoo's previous acting ventures, which have also faced criticism regarding her delivery and vocal projection.
Despite the controversy, the film remains one of the most anticipated releases of the summer, with the director expressing confidence that viewers will understand his creative decisions once they see the completed work.
