Shocking age gaps, past scandals, and more.
Koreaboo
Sometimes, even the most promising K-Dramas can turn viewers off with their casting choices. From miscasting to casting controversial actors, here are 5 K-Dramas that have been criticized by viewers for their casting this year.
1. Delusion
In May, Disney+ announced that its upcoming K-Drama, Delusion, will be released in 2026. It tells the story of a painter who is commissioned to paint a portrait of Song Jeong Hwa, a woman who hasn’t been seen for over half a century.
Though many netizens are looking forward to seeing Bae Suzy as one of the leads, some are less thrilled about Kim Seon Ho being cast opposite her, due to the actor’s past scandal. In 2021, his ex-girlfriend accused him of gaslighting and forcing her to abort their child. She later revealed that Kim had apologized and that she regretted causing him damage with the accusations. Following this, Korean media reported that the decision to abort had been mutual.
2. A History of the Losers
A History of the Losers premiered on February 26, 2025. Based on the popular webtoon by Kim Poong and Sim Yoonsoo, A History of the Losers follows the underdogs of the dating world.
Some netizens expressed disappointment with the cast, due to the fact that actors Cho Byeong Kyu and Song Ha Yoon were both accused of school violence.
3. My Dearest Nemesis
My Dearest Nemesis is about the leader of a department store’s planning team (played by Moon Ga Young) who discovers that her new boss (played by Choi Hyun Wook) is her first love. Some viewers weren’t happy about this K-Drama’s casting, but for entirely different reasons.
During filming, Choi Hyun Wook was 22 years old, making him a decade younger than his character’s webtoon counterpart. Viewers felt that he couldn’t pull off the role and that the age gap between him and 28-year-old Moon Ga Young would affect their characters’ romantic chemistry. Some viewers changed their minds after watching the series.
4. Boyfriend on Demand
In February, Netflix announced that BLACKPINK‘s Jisoo would be playing the lead in this upcoming series, which also stars Seo In Guk. It’s a romantic comedy about a webtoon producer who escapes reality by playing a virtual dating simulation program.
Recently, Netflix confirmed the production of its upcoming series, Boyfriend On Demand (working title), starring Jisoo and Seo In Guk. The streaming platform described it as a romantic comedy depicting the story of a webtoon producer, Mi Rae, who escapes her tiring reality through a virtual dating simulation program.
After the announcement, some netizens expressed uncertainty about Jisoo’s casting. Some felt that she doesn’t have the acting abilities to pull off the lead role, especially since her co-star is seasoned actor Seo In Guk. Earlier this year, Jisoo received scathing criticism for her acting in Newtopia.
BLACKPINK’s Jisoo Absolutely Slammed For Acting Skills In “Newtopia”
5. Mean Love
At the end of 2024, the upcoming romance melodrama Mean Love received backlash for the age gap between its actors. It was revealed that actress Lim Ji Yeon would be paired with Lee Jung Jae, an actor 17 years older than her. In March, another casting announcement reignited the backlash. Actress Oh Yeon Seo would be joining the cast as Lee’s first love. She and Lee have a 15-year age gap.
