Is Ji Soo retiring from acting? Actor's contract terminated amid bullying and sexual harassment scandal
Kim Ji-soo, commonly known as actor Ji Soo, shot to fame with roles in K-dramas like 'Strong Woman Do Bong-soon' and 'Angry Mom' is leaving his agency KeyEast after a bullying scandal emerged in March.
The actor who was cast as the lead male character of 'River Where The Moon Lies' was accused of being violent in school along with sexually harassing students. KeyEast has released a statement regarding the actor terminating his contract early. Ji Soo signed up with KeyEast agency last year in October prior to grabbing the lead for 'River When The Moon Lies.' The agency stated, "This is a notice that the exclusive contract with our agency’s actor Ji Soo has come to a conclusion. We assessed that it is currently difficult for Ji Soo to carry out activities, and we respect the actor’s personal intention to not cause further harm to the agency, so a mutual final decision was made to terminate his contract."
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Is Ji Soo retiring from acting?
The 28-year-old actor had earlier announced that he will be enlisting in the military this year in October after the school violence scandal emerged. With KeyEast's contract getting terminated, fans are speculating if Ji Soo can ever come back to acting. Currently, Twitter users have given the verdict that the actor's resurrection from the current scandal is pretty difficult given the fact that he needs to face the consequence for his actions.
A user wrote, "Unfortunately his career was already ended. Nothing can fix his image. Knetz are boycotting him everywhere. He should be retire in the industry and find another job. Well I wish him luck." Another user opined, "I hope people will stop sending hate to him..he did wrong but i do believed a lot people condemned him already for such & thats more than enough,hate must stop..if some people kept sending hate to him,its also a form of bullying..lets strive for forgiveness & peace!"
Unfortunately his career was already ended. Nothing can fix his image. Knetz are boycotting him everywhere. He should be retire in the industry and find another job. Well I wish him luck
— 🐰 (@cottonbunny07) May 27, 2021
i hope people will stop sending hate to him..he did wrong but i do believed a lot people condemned him already for such & thats more than enough,hate must stop..if some people kept sending hate to him,its also a form of bullying..lets strive for forgiveness & peace!✌
— Tintin 🍁 틴틴 ,BSN (@icmarie_0220) May 27, 2021
More users have stated that he is not likely to make a comeback as he is 'done' for the industry. A user shared, "He’s done for in this industry. Hope he’s able to genuinely lead a better life from now on." A user earlier noted, "As a past victim of bullying, and a witness to severe bullying. I'm shaking after reading the allegations about actor Ji Soo.. I'm not even a huge fan of him, but i hope it's not true. Because the allegations was so horrible and hits close to home. If it's true.. please retire..."
He’s done for in this industry. Hope he’s able to genuinely lead a better life from now on.
— Å티⁷🥒 (@4MYY) May 27, 2021
As a past victim of bullying, and a witness to severe bullying. I'm shaking after reading the allegations about actor Ji Soo.. I'm not even a huge fan of him, but i hope it's not true. Because the allegations was so horrible and hits close to home. If it's true.. please retire...
— Mimi is SHOOK~yung🍅 (@onemadtomato) March 3, 2021
Meanwhile, Ji Soo's former agency KeyEast is in a legal battle with Victory Contents, the production house of 'River Where The Moon Lies'. Victory Contents claimed that 90% of the shooting was done when the allegations surfaced due to which they had to restart the filming from scratch and introduce a new male lead. KeyEast has informed in their latest statement, "Regarding the ongoing lawsuit on “River Where The Moon Rises,” we will do our best until the end in order to resolve the situation."
Meanwhile, after the school violence allegations, Ji Soo had written a handwritten apology to the victims for all the harm he had caused. Along with that, KeyEast divulged, “In addition to his official letter of apology, Ji Soo is resolving the issue by continuously apologizing and asking for forgiveness from the victims he has gotten in touch with.”