Kim Soo Hyun and Sulli’s “Real” Movie Discussed
“Real,” directed by Lee Sarang (Kim Soo Hyun’s cousin), starring Kim Soo Hyun and Sulli, aimed to be a stylish noir thriller set in the criminal underworld. The plot centered on Jang Tae-yeong (Kim), a casino owner and gang boss struggling with a split personality disorder. Sulli portrayed Song Yoo-hwa, a character caught between the protagonist’s dual identities.
What might have been a showcase for both performers’ talents instead became a lightning rod for criticism. The film’s explicit scenes, particularly those featuring Sulli, drew harsh judgment from South Korea’s conservative entertainment audience. The movie was both a critical and commercial failure, but the public scrutiny fell disproportionately on Sulli’s shoulders.
READ NEXT: Kim Soo-hyun Controversy: Dispatch “Confirms” Kim Sae-ron’s Relationship
"Women only get heard when they're dead."
— zeni (@Zensuaxy) March 12, 2025
When women speak and ask for help, they're silenced; but when they're gone, the world suddenly listens and defends them.#kimsoohyun #kimsaeron #sulli
Sulli Kim Saeron pic.twitter.com/Lb3iLUDt18
Sulli Bearing the Consequences
Industry observers note a stark disparity in how the film’s failure affected its leads. While Kim Soo Hyun’s career continued relatively unscathed, Sulli faced relentless criticism and online harassment. The intense scrutiny took a devastating toll on the former f(x) member, who had already been battling the effects of malicious comments throughout her career.
A Tragic Aftermath
In October 2019, approximately two years after “Real” premiered, Sulli was found dead in her home. She had taken her own life at just 25 years old. While her death resulted from complex factors, many fans and industry insiders couldn’t help but connect her passing to the years of cyberbullying she endured—including the intense wave that followed “Real.”
Her death sparked a national conversation about mental health and the toxic culture of online harassment in South Korea, even prompting discussions about potential legislation against malicious comments, sometimes referred to as “Sulli’s Law.”
exposed; Renewed Scrutiny
Years later, “Real” has reentered public discourse amid separate controversies surrounding Kim Soo Hyun. Following recent allegations about his personal relationships, including with late actress Kim Sae-ron, fans have revisited his lack of public support for Sulli during the “Real” backlash.
One fan commented, “Kim Soo Hyun was exposed, I knew he wasn’t a good person ever since Sulli was harassed over a movie they were both in, and this man was praised for it.”
A second fan posted: “This is the same Kim Soo Hyun who, along with his cousin/half brother, directed and produced a soft p**no and let Sulli take the brunt of all the criticism when the movie flopped, so he’s not getting the benefit of the doubt from me.”
Social media has seen an outpouring of comments questioning why Kim Soo hyun never publicly defended his co-star against the disproportionate criticism she received. One fan noted, “The pattern seems to be that women around him face consequences while his image remains protected.”
Beyond the Controversy
What remains most poignant about the “Real” controversy is how it highlights the often uneven treatment of male and female performers in the entertainment industry. For Sulli, who had been outspoken about women’s issues and refused to conform to industry expectations, the film became another battlefield in a war she ultimately couldn’t sustain.
As the entertainment world continues to grapple with questions of gender equality and mental health, the story of “Real” serves as a somber reminder of the human cost behind the glossy veneer of celebrity.
