South Korean actor Lee Jin-wook (이진욱) is reportedly set to star alongside Girls' Generation member YoonA (윤아) in the new drama, Unnatural. While initial news of the casting was met with anticipation, it has unexpectedly triggered significant online controversy. This stems from Lee Jin-wook's past involvement in sexual assault allegations, coupled with the drama's focus on sensitive topics such as sexual consent, victim blaming, and sexual violence awareness. The announcement has led to widespread criticism from netizens.
Unnatural, starring Lee Jin-wook and YoonA, is an adaptation of a popular Japanese drama of the same name. Filming is slated to begin in early September, with a tentative broadcast date in June 2027. The series is a mystery medical drama that follows forensic pathologists as they investigate various cases and uncover the truth behind them. Given that the original work touched upon sensitive issues like sexual assault and consent, Lee Jin-wook's confirmed casting has rapidly intensified discussions surrounding these themes.
Following the news, many netizens quickly revisited Lee Jin-wook's past controversy. In 2016, a woman identified only by her surname, Oh, accused him of sexual assault. Lee Jin-wook vehemently denied the allegations at the time and filed a countersuit against her.
The case underwent multiple hearings. In 2017, the court initially found the woman's accusations credible, ruling that she was not guilty of false accusation. However, Lee Jin-wook appealed the decision. In 2018, the Seoul Central District Court overturned the first ruling, finding the woman guilty of making false sexual assault claims. She was ultimately sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years.
Although the case concluded with a judicial ruling, the controversy has periodically resurfaced over the years. Now, with Lee Jin-wook confirmed for Unnatural, and the plot involving themes of sexual consent, date rape, and victim blaming, netizens have once again reacted with strong opposition.
Some netizens found it "absurd" for an actor previously accused of sexual assault to star in a work related to sexual violence awareness, even calling for a re-evaluation of the entire cast. Others referenced the plot of the Japanese version of Unnatural, noting that one episode explored issues like "date rape drugs" and "sexual consent." This has intensified their dissatisfaction with the Korean casting, questioning why the production team still decided to cast Lee Jin-wook as the lead. Comments included: "It's ridiculous to cast someone accused of sexual assault in a drama about sexual violence awareness. What kind of joke is this?" "The Japanese Unnatural discussed date rape drugs and sexual consent, but the Korean version casts someone like him? This casting is outrageous." and "He just quietly got confirmed? YoonA deserves a better co-star."
While Lee Jin-wook has been the primary target of netizens' criticism, some have also directed their anger at YoonA, suggesting she should not accept roles alongside such male actors. However, a large number of fans have defended YoonA, arguing that actors often have no control over their co-stars. They speculate that YoonA might have signed on before Lee Jin-wook joined the cast, and therefore, the casting controversy should not be attributed to her.
One fan stated, "YoonA has no control over casting. The people responsible for casting should be held accountable. Please don't drag her into this." Others expressed sympathy for YoonA, noting her recent streak of male co-star casting controversies: "Stop using female actors as shields to whitewash controversial men." Some fans even suggested that YoonA consider adding clauses to future contracts, reserving the right to withdraw from a project if a male co-star becomes embroiled in significant controversy, "because this keeps happening, and she's always the first one confirmed for the role."
Currently, Unnatural has not officially announced its full cast or further production details. Nevertheless, the news of Lee Jin-wook's involvement alone has already plunged the upcoming drama into controversy before its premiere.
