Kim Soo Hyun's 'Real' Resurfaces: The Controversial Film Climbing Charts Amid Shocking Allegations
## The Resurgence of 'Real': A Controversial Film Back in the Spotlight
Kim Soo Hyun's 2017 film 'Real' has unexpectedly climbed back onto various streaming platforms' charts following recent controversies surrounding the actor. As of March 30, 2025, the film ranked 4th on Netflix Korea's Top 10 Movies, 3rd on Coupang Play's Top 20 Popular Movies, and 6th in TVING's Real-Time Trending Movies.
This renewed interest comes amid two major controversies: allegations about Kim Soo Hyun's past relationship with the late Kim Sae Ron when she was underage, and claims from the late Sulli's family regarding inappropriate demands during the filming of 'Real.' On March 28, Sulli's family released an official statement questioning the nude scenes she was required to film, asking whether a body double had been present and if she had been pressured into performing intimate scenes.
The film, directed by Lee Sarang (also known as Lee Robe), was already controversial upon its release in 2017, but these recent allegations have brought it back into public discourse, prompting viewers to revisit this complex psychological thriller.
## Unraveling the Complex Plot of 'Real'
'Real' tells the story of Jang Tae-Young (Kim Soo Hyun), a man suffering from dissociative identity disorder (DID). The film presents a complicated narrative where Jang exists as both a powerful gangster who runs a casino and a troubled reporter/freelance writer.
In the film, gangster Jang visits psychiatrist Dr. Choi (played by Lee Sung-min) to help him deal with his alternate personality. Dr. Choi tricks Jang into believing he can eliminate his other personality by killing a comatose patient in the hospital. While gangster Jang believes this has worked, the truth is much more complex.
As the story progresses, we learn that the reporter personality is actually the original identity, and gangster Jang is the alternate personality that emerged following a traumatic incident. This revelation comes as gangster Jang faces a mysterious investor who looks exactly like him – another version of himself who claims to be the real Jang Tae-Young.
The plot involves criminal organizations, drug rings, revenge plots, and the construction of a casino called 'Siesta' – a name that ties into the film's themes of reality, dreams, and the subconscious.
## The Shocking Twist Ending Explained
The film's conclusion reveals that the trauma that created Jang's split personality stemmed from a horrific incident at a Russian mafia party. The reporter Jang had witnessed his girlfriend dying after overdosing on a drug called 'Siesta.' In her final moments, as she choked on her own blood, he mercifully ended her suffering.
This traumatic event caused his mind to fracture, creating the gangster Jang personality who was determined to find the man with a neck tattoo – identified as Boris/Dr. Choi – who he believed had raped his girlfriend.
In the film's climactic scenes, the two personalities confront each other, with the 'fake' Jang (who we learn is actually the original reporter personality) threatening to kill the gangster Jang. However, after nearly dying from gunshot wounds and discovering the truth about his past through flashbacks, Jang emerges from an ice-filled bathtub as a whole person – the memories, personalities, and goals of both personas have merged.
This integration allows him to finally understand his true self and face what he has done, giving him the resolve to enact his revenge against those who were truly responsible for his girlfriend's death.
## Kim Soo Hyun's Challenging Dual Performance
One of the most praised aspects of 'Real' was Kim Soo Hyun's performance in dual roles. In a 2017 interview following the film's release, Kim explained that he was drawn to the script because of its complexity and the challenge of portraying multiple personalities.
The actor employed various techniques to distinguish between his characters, including changes in voice modulation, facial expressions, body language, and even mask-like performances to represent the different versions of Jang Tae-Young.
Critics and fans alike noted that Kim Soo Hyun demonstrated impressive versatility in portraying both the cold, ambitious gangster and the troubled reporter. His performance showed a range that many hadn't seen from him before, with one reviewer commenting, "Kim Soohyun's acting was really refreshing. It was nice to see him take on two roles for this movie. Both were very distinctive and it was a pleasure to see him in different roles than I've seen him before."
Despite the film's overall reception being mixed, Kim's commitment to the challenging roles was widely acknowledged as a highlight of the production.
## Visual Style and Artistic Direction
'Real' is known for its distinctive visual style and atmosphere, which deliberately blurs the line between reality and fantasy. The film employs vibrant color schemes, unique visual effects, and stylized action sequences that create a dreamlike quality throughout.
Director Lee Sarang (Lee Robe) focused heavily on creating striking imagery that reflected the protagonist's fractured mental state. The casino settings, in particular, feature neon-lit environments and surreal architectural designs that enhance the film's otherworldly feel.
Some viewers appreciated these artistic choices, with one reviewer noting that "every single action sequence in this movie is fast-paced, fluid, intense, and beautifully shot." Others, however, felt that the director became too caught up in creating artistic shots at the expense of coherent storytelling.
The film's explicit scenes, particularly those involving Sulli's character, were controversial even at the time of release. Now, with the recent allegations from Sulli's family, these scenes have come under renewed scrutiny, with questions about whether they were necessary to the plot or merely exploitative.
## Critical Reception and Audience Response
Upon its release in 2017, 'Real' received predominantly negative reviews from critics who found the plot confusing and disjointed. Many viewers struggled to follow the complex narrative and felt that the film prioritized style over substance.
One reviewer described it as having "a confusing and messy plot," while another stated that "the narrative was so little and it focused too much on the aesthetics." The film's director, Lee Sarang, reportedly even apologized at a press screening, saying, "I'm sorry, I'll do better next time."
However, some viewers appreciated the film's ambition and unique approach. One IMDB reviewer gave it a positive assessment, calling it "Impressive!" and praising its "extraordinary graphic and music arrangement, not to mention the complex story line played by the excellent cast."
Current online discussions about the film have been reignited by the controversies surrounding Kim Soo Hyun and the late Sulli. Many netizens have expressed concern about the production practices, with comments like "This kind of movie should've never been released" and "This is too much.." appearing on social media platforms.
The film's current surge in popularity on streaming platforms appears to be driven more by curiosity about the controversy than by artistic appreciation, raising questions about the ethics of consuming content that may have been produced under questionable circumstances.
## Behind-the-Scenes Controversies
Recent revelations have shed light on troubling aspects of the film's production. According to reports, the original director, Lee Jung-seop, who wrote the screenplay, was replaced during post-production due to disagreements with the production team. His replacement was Lee Sarang (Lee Robe), who is reportedly related to Kim Soo Hyun and was the CEO of the production company behind 'Real' as well as Kim's current agency, Gold Medalist.
More disturbing are the allegations regarding the casting process. A casting call for the film reportedly stated that actresses unable to perform "high-level exposure scenes" could not apply for the female lead role. This approach has been criticized as inappropriate and coercive, with one netizen pointing out that "commercial films typically use body doubles for lead actors in exposure scenes, and recently CG processing has also been introduced."
Sulli's family has now raised serious concerns about the nude scenes she filmed, questioning whether she was pressured into performing them without adequate support. According to reports, Sulli's mental state deteriorated significantly during and after filming, with her family stating that "she said she would never film again after this movie."
These revelations have prompted many to reconsider the film not just as a confusing artistic work, but as a potentially problematic production that may have contributed to the suffering of its cast members.