Floki

You just said yourself that the movie was rated better on Letterboxd, which is exactly the platform I recommended, so I don’t see how that doesn’t make sense if it confirms my point. You also can’t really compare a site with 2,633 ratings to one with nearly 720k for the same movie, that’s a completely different sample size.

Some movies get more attention because of casting, but that’s not always the case with auteur films. For example, *The Handmaiden* has only around 28k ratings there, while Letterboxd has about 772k, which gives a much broader perspective.

I’m not saying ratings should be completely ignored, just that MDL isn’t the best place for auteur films because they’re reviewed far more on platforms like Letterboxd, where people interested in that type of cinema are more active. Korean content is also vastly more popular on MDL, so you have to mentally adjust ratings depending on the content, and you even acknowledged there can be issues with ratings on MDL, and not just Japanese ones I would say. That kind of adjustment isn’t as necessary on Letterboxd, where in my experience there’s less of a groupie effect, even though everyone has their preferences.

I’ve been on MDL for a while, and it’s not uncommon to see films underrated here while dramas can be slightly overrated. And regarding elitism, I can only speak for myself, but auteur films often get less visibility, while blockbusters tend to overperform despite their flaws.

I mean, you don’t have to agree with me, but the scores themselves tend to support my point. In many cases, movie ratings here are lower than on more specialized platforms. And many of them have low amount of reviews or reviewers as well. IMDb is fairly mainstream but still tends to be a bit more consistent, while Letterboxd is more niche and geared toward people who are particularly interested in film and auteur ones.

I’m not denying that we’re all users of this site, I watch a lot of K-dramas myself. But the direction a platform takes inevitably shapes the kind of audience it attracts. If the focus leans heavily toward K-dramas and celebrity gossip (and god knows it does here), it naturally caters to a more specific type of viewer.

People who are into auteur films will always be in the minority; box office trends show that pretty clearly (some of them will tank pretty bad regardless of how interesting they actually are). It’s not about elitism, it’s more about what different people look for in movies. For example, I also enjoy blockbuster films like superhero movies, and I’m not looking down on anyone who enjoys them. But I don’t think they belong in the same category as something like *Parasite*. One is primarily designed for entertainment, while the other offers a deeper critique of social themes that invites multiple layers of interpretation and requires more engagement from the viewer. At the same time, I completely understand that many people just want to be entertained and are perfectly happy to “turn their brain off” while watching.

To clarify, I’m not saying this is a “real film” and others aren’t, I’m saying it fits the definition of an auteur film. Auteur films are often recognizable by their pacing, style, and recurring thematic concerns.

And just to be clear, I’m not judging your rating. I don’t even know what kind of viewer you are, and I also use MDL to share my reviews, even though I know its main audience is very different from a platform like Letterboxd.

MDL probably isn’t the best place for auteur-driven films. The platform caters to a different audience, mainly people who are really into dramas (which is totally fine btw). Given what this movie is trying to do, you’re better off checking reviews elsewhere.

Many did the same thing before attempting to return. He did not explicitly use the word "retirement", but something like “halt all activities” and "take responsibility". From there it's up to interpretation.

His agency, Saram Entertainment, also emphasized that he will be on an "indefinite hiatus" (something many have said in his situation) but declined to confirm if he plans to return in the future.

It’s often assumed that cast and crew are fully protected by labor laws or insurance if a drama is cancelled, but that’s not guaranteed... Since filming is complete, most crew have "likely" been paid, so I would assume that the crew did get paid. Jo Jin Woong can still face contract penalties, which is common when issues arise from someone’s past (which is the case here).

When someone joins an agency, it’s standard for them to run a background check. It’s hard to believe no one knew about this, but given his long career and the protections around juvenile records, they probably assumed it was “fine” and that nothing would resurface. Many of these claims are also allegations, which are extremely difficult to prove considering how long ago the events occurred. He’s not the first actor linked to serious accusations, and plenty of others have managed to return to work as if nothing happened.

The channel airing the drama would be taking a major risk ~ financially and reputationally. In situations like this, it’s common to just take the L and protect whatever image they have left to safeguard future earnings. Yes, it was a huge investment, but the potential backlash isn’t worth the gamble. Maybe they’ll wait a bit for things to settle, but given the nature of the allegations, that’s unlikely.

That’s just how this industry works. They hold on to crucial information and release it when it benefits them, whether it’s due to an ongoing investigation or leverage we’re not aware of. This isn’t about justice; it’s about creating buzz.

It’s terrifying to see what people are capable of doing to one another. While there may be reasons to explain such behavior, it can never be excused. What’s even more alarming is how increasingly common it has become, not only in Asia, but across the world. Crazy times.

According to the accuser’s own statements, it wasn’t just Song Ha Yoon acting alone. He claims that she “gathered other students” and that multiple people took part in the assault, slapping and hitting him for 90 minutes.

It's clickbait, they get more visits and clicks this way.

I’d suggest looking into the actual bullying problem Asia has been facing for decades. You’ll find countless videos of similar cases, many lasting much longer. No one is saying he was punched nonstop or hit with a crowbar for 90 minutes. These situations can drag on for hours, and they’re often less about physical damage than about humiliation, with bullies deliberately prolonging their control over the victim.

Please educate yourself on the seriousness of the issue. While the law may have statutes of limitation, as human beings we shouldn’t dismiss what happened, and certainly not blame a victim for taking years to confront it.

Well it appears way more naive to believe there won't be consequences to your actions, regardless of when it happened. She is about to lose everything, as she had prepared it could have been avoided and NDAs could have been signed.

You’re literally doing the same cyberbullying you claim to condemn... Mocking, insulting, and dismissing people as “moronic” or “adult children.” That’s the very culture you say is the problem.

And for the record, the alleged victim did refuse money. Song Ha Yoon’s team offered to cover her travel costs (plane ticket, hotel, transportation) so she could come from the U.S. to Korea for questioning. She refused, said she never asked for compensation, would pay her own expenses, and wanted the truth revealed through school records instead of financial support.

So your whole “victim is after money” point collapses under actual facts.It doesn't mean that it wasn't her plan, but at this point you are insulting others based on speculation and assumptions. That's an interesting approach to the problem, if you are part of the problem yourself.

She likely lied, since such documents are protected by privacy laws and can’t be requested unless there’s a formal investigation, which would require the victim to sue the perpetrator.

She also claimed she transferred voluntarily, which isn’t necessarily untrue btw. In cases like this, schools often pressure families to leave quietly rather than expel a student, since official action could damage the school’s reputation...

Given her long career, she probably didn’t expect this to resurface at all; otherwise, it would have happened earlier. But if the victim only wanted an apology, she made a critical mistake by not addressing her past before stepping into the spotlight.

While 90 minutes may sound excessive, South Korea struggles with a deeply rooted bullying culture, especially in schools. And it’s not just Korea... Across Asia there have been shocking cases where children were beaten and tormented for hours at a time! I'll let you look it up, but 90 minutes is still believable, even though we can't be certain it was the duration of this encounter. Here are a few examples:

Thailand (Buriram province)
A 13-year-old girl was assaulted by around 10 classmates in a school restroom. The attack began around 9 a.m. and continued for approximately one hour, during which she was slapped, stomped on, and had her head smashed against a toilet bowl.

South Korea (Busan)
A 13-year-old Mongolian girl was reportedly beaten, tortured, and had alcohol poured into her mouth by four senior students. This occurred over a prolonged period: the assault lasted about six hours, starting at midnight.

China (Jiangyou, Sichuan Province)
Some sources indicate the video itself runs about 10 minutes and 45 seconds, though commentary suggests the incident may have spanned several hours
Other reports state the bullying went on for nearly four hours

Many K-dramas, webtoons, and other content are inspired by real-life events; sometimes reality is even scarier, and more surprising than fiction.

If the police or prosecution request them during an official investigation, the school is legally obligated to cooperate. There is no indication that the police requested the school transcript.

You can choose to disagree with it, but the reality is that in Korea, public figures are expected to be exemplary. Whether people like it or not, this cultural expectation isn’t going away. Celebrities aren’t seen only as entertainers, they’re regarded as role models, and that comes with high standards.

Because of this, controversies are common. The same fame that makes them immensely popular can also destroy them with just one misstep. Ideally, the public’s judgment should be moderated more, but the pressure to embody certain values is inseparable from being a celebrity in Korea.

Her behavior may be understandable, but it's not excusable. Trauma can help explain why someone acts a certain way, but it doesn’t justify harmful actions. People respond to similar experiences in different ways, shaped by their character. It's clear she’s been through something, just as everyone faces their own struggles in life.

I'm not denying that there may be reasons behind her actions, but that doesn't make what happened acceptable (I am not saying that it's what you implied though). That said, I sincerely hope she’s learned from it, and that she returns stronger, wiser, and better.