Ji Soo's bullying controversy results in 1 million damages payment by former label to ‘River Where the Moon Rises’ production

The 31st Civil Division of the Seoul Central District Court, on July 25, issued a ruling requiring KeyEast, the former management label of actor Ji Soo, to pay a substantial sum of 1,421,470,000 KRW (approximately 1 million USD) in damages to Victory Contents, the production company behind the drama ‘River Where the Moon Rises’. This decision stems from the fallout caused by Ji Soo’s school bullying controversy, which significantly impacted the production of the drama.
In 2021, Ji Soo found himself at the center of allegations related to past school bullying incidents while he was starring as the male lead in ‘River Where the Moon Rises’. The drama, which had already aired up to episode 6, faced considerable disruption following Ji Soo’s public apology and subsequent departure from the show. His exit necessitated a major overhaul, with actor Na In Woo stepping in to replace him. As a result, the production team was forced to re-film segments of the series to accommodate the change in lead actors.
Following the scandal, Ji Soo terminated his contract with KeyEast and proceeded with his mandatory military enlistment. Upon completing his service in 2023, the actor disclosed that he had reached a settlement with his school bullying accuser. The court's ruling underscores the financial repercussions of the controversy, highlighting the impact on the production company and the associated legal and financial ramifications for Ji Soo's former management label.