Netflix series Goodbye Earth went ahead with its production presentation today at the Mondrian Hotel Seoul Itaewon in Yongsan-gu, despite the ongoing controversy surrounding its lead actor Yoo Ah In. Director Kim Jin Min was joined at the event by actors Ahn Eun Jin, Jeon Sung Woo and Kim Yoon Hye.
Goodbye Earth was originally slated for release last year, but its debut was pushed back due to Yoo Ah In’s drug scandal. In response, the film has undergone editing to remove some of Yoo Ah In’s scenes. The promotional campaign is also moving forward without Yoo Ah In’s involvement.
Regarding this, Director Kim Jin Min said, “I never thought the show wouldn’t see the light of day. Putting Yoo Ah In’s situation aside, the movie itself deserves to be released. We poured our hearts and souls into making it, and I truly believe it stands on its own merit. We have nothing to be ashamed of. After all, this work belongs to everyone involved in making it – the cast, the crew, and ultimately, the audience. It would have been a shame to keep it locked away.”
Director Kim Jin Min also spoke candidly about his decision to edit out some of Yoo Ah In’s scenes. He said, “We were editing the first few sections of the show when news broke about Yoo Ah In’s scandal. Initially, I held out hope it would go away over time, so I continued editing. Unfortunately, the situation didn’t improve as I’d hoped.”
He continued, “As I edited, I came to understand the story better and was about to tell Netflix that I wanted to re-edit. But Netflix doesn’t let the director touch the beginning sections once editing is finalized. Fortunately, with the situation surrounding Yoo Ah In, I had a legitimate reason to revisit those parts. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it allowed me to minimize potential discomfort for viewers.”
“However, Yoo Ah In’s character, Ha Yoon Sang, plays an important role in the story’s flow alongside the other three characters. Unfortunately, the character won’t be fully represented in the show due to editing some of his scenes. I apologize for this, but I hope it won’t disrupt your viewing experience. It was necessary to use the scenes that were essential to the story.”
Putting aside the lead actor’s issue, the director and actors agreed that Goodbye Earth is a work worth watching for its message alone. Director Kim Jin Min said, “Each episode has a title hinting at the themes behind the story. Imagine it as a tale about a community on the brink of something big. You might even see reflections of your own loved ones like friends and parents in the characters. It’s surprisingly relatable and heartwarming, so give it a chance – you might just love it.”
>> Yoo Ah In Attends Fourth Court Hearing on Drug Charges
Goodbye Earth will be released on Netflix on April 26th.
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