Lee Jong-suk and Park Seo-joon were both once the nation’s heartthrobs in the K-drama industry. The two 80s-born actors had striking visuals and prominent works. While Lee Jong-suk starred in “W”, “Big Mouth”, “While You Were Sleeping”, “Pinocchio”, and more, Park Seo-joon made waves with “Itaewon Class”, “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim”, “Fight For My Way”, among others. However, now both actors share a common point – their careers are fading due to attitude controversies.
Lee Jong-suk’s Downfall – Offending a “Big Gun”, Disappearing from Screens for 2 Years
Compared to his peak, the career of IU’s boyfriend is in a concerning state. After the success of “Big Mouth” (July 2022), the actor has not taken on any new projects. In an industry as competitive as entertainment, a two-year absence from the screen shows a significant decline in his appeal.
The number of endorsement deals and ambassadorships for Lee Jong-suk has also shocked the public as it currently stands at a big zero. After ending his contract with Prada in 2021, the actor has not signed any further deals with luxury brands. He only attends occasional events and does photoshoots for a few brands. This comes as a surprise given that Lee Jong-suk possesses several valuable commercial traits: good looks, high status, and an Instagram account with 26.6 million followers, placing him at the top among actors.
So, what led to this?
According to TV Report, the reason is that Lee Jong Suk is notorious for having a “celebrity complex” and a bad reputation in the industry. Due to his poor attitude, the actor offended the “big gun” Netflix. Lee Jong-suk was invited to star in Netflix’s “See You Again” in 2018. However, just one day before the official script reading in May 2018, he abruptly withdrew from the project. This forced “See You Again” to be canceled, with Netflix releasing a brief statement: “Things did not go as planned, so we had to change our approach“. Since then, Netflix has blacklisted Lee Jong-suk, barring him from being cast in any further productions.
Industry insiders revealed that Lee Jong-suk demanded an unreasonable fee for his role in “See You Again”. When Netflix refused to meet his financial demands, the actor canceled his participation, causing the platform considerable distress, even losing money and credibility after already heavily promoting the project. The whistleblower added that they lost their job due to Lee Jong-suk’s reckless behavior.
The actor was also accused of delaying his confirmation for roles in “Come and Hug Me” and “The Witch: Part 1 – The Subversion” for an extended period, causing difficulties for all parties involved. Yet, despite everything, the actor never apologized or took responsibility for his actions. This has tarnished Lee Jong-suk’s reputation in the industry, leaving many reluctant to work with him.
Park Seo-soon Losing Fan Support After a Series of Attitude Scandals
Park Seo-soon’s situation is not as dire as Lee Jong-suk’s, but his career is also on a downward slope. In August, Park Seo-joon held three fan meetings in Seoul, Tokyo, and Osaka, but there were numerous empty seats in Seoul. His management company only posted pictures of the fan meetings in Japan, avoiding any photos of the poorly attended event in Korea. The Seoul fan meeting also did not have a hired MC.
Following the success of “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim” and “Itaewon Class”, Park Seo-joon’s recent works have not been well-received. “Dream”, his collaboration with IU, was criticized for being dull and long-winded. “Gyeongseong Creature,” a high-budget film with a 70 billion won (approximately $53.5 million) production cost, faced harsh criticism for its poor storytelling and unappealing characters and creatures.
Not to mention “The Marvels”, Park Seo-joon’s Hollywood debut, which left Korean audiences disappointed. Despite anticipation for his appearance, he only had about 3 minutes of screen time, with a comedic role and unremarkable performance.
In 2023, Park Seo-joon unexpectedly ranked fifth on a list of Korean stars with the worst attitudes, as voted by journalists. He was put on this list due to his unprofessional behavior. Some reporters stated that Park Seo-joon displayed inappropriate conduct during the press conference for “Concrete Utopia”. While promoting the film, the actor stirred controversy by refusing to wear a headband gifted by fans, leaving his co-star Park Bo-young visibly surprised. Additionally, several journalists accused him of having a celebrity complex, being close only to powerful directors and producers.
Although Park Seo-joon has spoken out to explain the attitude scandals, it’s clear that his reputation and once-flawless image are deteriorating in the eyes of the public. This is evident as Korean fans have turned their backs on him, refusing to support his fan meeting events.
K-biz Has No Place for Demanding Stars!
Due to the profound influence of Confucianism, Korea is known for its strong emphasis on respect, manners, and hierarchy. K-biz especially values humility and proper behavior, even among the most famous stars.
Politeness and modesty are among the top standards in Korean entertainment. If a celebrity shows any signs of improper conduct, they will be publicly criticized for years to come. Some examples of stars who lost their shine include Han Ye-seul, Red Velvet’s Irene, and Lee Da-hae.
At first glance, stars appear powerful, wealthy, and adored by millions. However, in reality, it is the directors and screenwriters who hold the true power within a production. In fact, screenwriters can sometimes be placed above directors, holding ultimate control, especially when it comes to casting actors. If they do not improve their attitudes, it is highly likely that Lee Jong-suk and Park Seo-joon will follow in the footsteps of those who have lost their fame and status.
Source: K14