As soon as the Netflix series 'Hellbound' was released, it climbed to the top of the world rankings.

As of November 20th, if you look at the Netflix world ranking TV show category, 'Hellbound' is running at the top with 630 points.

The 'Squid Game', which caused a syndrome around the world, dropped to a level below when 'Hellbound' was released.

As a result, 'Hellbound' and 'Squid Game' were ranked at the top of the Netflix World Chart side by side, attracting attention.

'Hellbound' tells the story of a supernatural phenomenon in which people are sentenced to hell from the messengers of hell who appear without notice, and the religious organization Saejinrihae, which was revived in this chaos, and those trying to uncover the truth of the incident are intertwined.

This is a drama based on the Naver webtoon 'Hellbound'. Writer Choi Gyu-seok of 'Awl' and director Yeon Sang-ho of 'Train to Busan' took charge of drawing and writing, respectively.

The lineup of actors is also good. Yoo Ah-in, Kim Hyeon-joo, Park Jeong-min, Won Jin-ah, and Yang Ik-jun enhanced the perfection of the play by three-dimensionally depicting various characters who want to keep their beliefs.

Meanwhile, 'Hellbound' has been getting a hot response around the world right after it was released on Netflix at 5 pm on November 19th.

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Director Kim Hyung Joo of The Match has finally shared his thoughts on Yoo Ah In’s involvement in a drug scandal, calling it a major disappointment, especially considering the actor’s role as the lead in the film.

On March 19th, the director attended a press screening and briefing for The Match at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul. Alongside Kim, actors Lee Byung Hun, Ko Chang Seok, Hyun Bong Sik, Moon Jung Hee, and Jo Woo Jin were present to discuss the film.

The Match revolves around the legendary Go player Cho Hun Hyun (played by Lee Byung Hun), who, after a loss to his disciple, decides to challenge the top players again, driven by his competitive spirit. The movie is directed by Kim Hyung Joo.

Lee Byung Hun plays the iconic Go champion Cho Hun Hyun, while Yoo Ah In portrays his disciple, Lee Chang Ho.

During the event, Kim recalled the casting process, saying, "When we were casting, Lee Byung Hun was cast first. Just having him felt like we had the world, and then, getting Yoo Ah In as a bonus made me even happier."

Although filming wrapped up in 2021, Yoo Ah In's drug scandal led to the indefinite postponement of the film’s release. Now, nearly four years later, The Match is finally set to hit theaters on March 26th.

Reflecting on Yoo Ah In's scandal, Director Kim openly shared his frustration, calling it "irresponsible and disappointing" for the actor to make such a mistake as the lead.

He added, “Before being an actor, he made a mistake as a member of society and was punished, so I don’t think there’s much more to say.” Kim smiled bitterly as he spoke.

Describing the challenges he faced due to the scandal, Kim compared the experience to being trapped in "a hellish tunnel."

He said, "There was nothing I could do inside, so it was overwhelming. But now that we have the light of release, it feels like I can breathe. I’m deeply moved."

The director also shared that because Yoo Ah In was the lead actor, the film had to be released as it was, without editing. This has led some people to feel uneasy about watching the film, given the actor’s scandal.

When asked about this, Director Kim said, "Choosing and judging is up to the audience, so I can't force anything. But I hope they watch the movie as it is. I unintentionally got hurt before the release, so I hope people watch the movie warmly, as if applying ointment to a wound."

The Match will officially be released on March 26th.

Source: [1]