Netizens are outraged that Song Joong Ki and Kim Ji Won are being replaced in "Arthdal Chronicles 2".

A surprising shift in the casting of "Arthdal Chronicles 2" was announced on April 20th, which received a lot of interest.

As a result, the major characters in Season 2 will no longer be performed by Song Joong Ki and Kim Ji Won. Instead, Lee Joon Gi and Shin Se Kyung are said to have been cast as the male and female leads, respectively.

"Arthdal Chronicles" on tvN is an ancient historical fantasy drama about mythological heroes situated in the fictional kingdom of Arth.

Despite its high production cost, the first season sparked controversy and received lower-than-expected audience ratings due to weak visual effects, an unappealing plot, and accusations of plagiarism. Despite mixed reviews for season one, "Arthdal Chronicles" was renewed for a second season.

Netizens are speculating if the Season 1's disappointing results forced some key actor and crew members to leave for season 2.

In addition to Song Joong Ki and Kim Ji Won declining to reprise their roles, director Kim Won Seok backed out of the project. Lee Joon Gi and Shin Se Kyung are currently in negotiations to play Eun Seom and Tanya in season 2.

While most viewers are satisfied with Lee Joon Gi replacing Song Joong Ki because his performance is just as superb, the announcement of Shin Se Kyung's appointment has sparked controversy.

Netizens argue that Shin Se Kyung's acting isn't good enough for the part, especially since she has to live up to Kim Ji Won's performance.

Some netizens' thoughts:

• We waited three years for this news? Who is Shin Se Kyung? What's the matter with the producers?
• Shin Se Kyung is a bad actor. She'll ruin everything!
• Lee Joon Gi is fine, but what about Shin Se Kyung? She is unable to act.
• I'm not going to watch. They changed both of the main characters.

Source[1]

Actor Chun Jung Myung has opened up about a devastating betrayal by his former manager, who swindled tens of billions of won from his family. The former manager, who had been trusted like family, is now serving prison time for his actions.

In the December 8 episode of SBS’s My Little Old Boy, Chun Jung Myung shared the shocking details of his financial fraud ordeal with fellow cast members Lee Sang Min and Kim Heechul.

He explained, "I was financially defrauded by the manager I had worked with for 16 years since my debut. He forged documents to steal money and even caused huge financial losses for my parents."

A close source confirmed on December 9, "The manager mentioned on the show ultimately couldn’t repay the damages and is now serving his prison sentence for fraud."

The source also revealed that Chun Jung Myung suffered losses in the tens of billions of won. The emotional toll was severe, leading to social anxiety, and he even considered retiring from the entertainment industry due to the devastating betrayal.

Chun Jung Myung debuted in 1999 with the drama School 2 and became a household name with roles in Beijing, My Love, Fashion 70s, and What's Up Fox? However, after his role in the 2019 drama Urban Cops: KCSI, he suddenly disappeared from the spotlight, sparking concerns from fans.

An entertainment agency CEO weighed in, saying, "Celebrities, especially those with limited real-world experience, are vulnerable to scams because of their public status. Some get trapped and lose vast amounts of money after being used as figureheads."

An entertainment law expert added, "Fraud cases are tricky because proving the intent to steal is difficult. If someone makes an enticing offer, always ask, ‘Why me and not them?’ Skepticism is key."

Source: [1]