"Captivating The King," a fresh weekend K-Drama on Netflix produced by tvN, featuring A-list stars Jo Jung Suk and Shin Se Kyung, is causing a stir among viewers. The focus of the controversy lies in the portrayal of the female lead.

Shin Se Kyung's character, Kang Hee Soo, is the daughter of the Chief State Councillor. In her quest to gather ransom for captives taken to Qing, Kang assumes the identity of Kang Mong Woo, a man, and engages in betting as an unnamed baduk master.

An @star1 review drew attention to Shin's "full face of makeup," deeming it the least convincing aspect of the K-Drama. Online communities, such as theqoo, have become platforms for viewers to voice their opinions.

The critique acknowledged Shin Se Kyung's efforts to depict a woman pretending to be a man but claimed that her attractive appearance hindered the believability of the role.

Hwang Yeon Do from @star1 remarked, "Shin Se Kyung's face, even in the guise of a male character, radiates beauty. "

He added, "From her smooth skin to arched eyebrows and rose-pink lip gloss, there's nothing masculine about the character meant to deceive others."

Some viewers joined the conversation, pointing out the excessive makeup and comparing Shin to other actresses who successfully portrayed characters disguising as men, like Moon Geun Young, Yoon Eun Hye, and Park Eun Bin.

Netizens shared diverse opinions:

"I saw it as her portraying a delicate aristocrat man. People might see it differently."

"Actresses can't change their faces. Just enjoy the drama."

"It's a K-Drama; watch it for what it is."

"Should she change how she looks?"

"Men can be beautiful too, right?"

However, some criticized the critic for focusing on her beauty:

"Admit it. You all think the makeup is too much."

"I don't care about the makeup, but Park Eun Bin did a better job portraying a disguised female character."

"Color makeup for a character disguised as a man?!"

"Yoon Eun Hye in Coffee Prince nailed the 'disguise as a man' role. Shin Se Kyung is wearing too much makeup."

What are your thoughts?

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]