Director Kim Byung-woo’s Praise for BLACKPINK Jisoo’s Acting in Omniscient Reader: The Prophet Ignites Fan Backlash and Controversy

BLACKPINK’s Jisoo is under fire after the director of “Omniscient Reader: The Prophet” defended her casting, sparking debate among fans. The controversy also includes major changes to her character, Lee Ji-hye, who now uses a gun instead of a sword.

The upcoming movie Omniscient Reader: The Prophet, based on the hit web novel Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, has faced criticism even before its July 23 release. Director Kim Byung-woo recently praised Jisoo’s dedication but faced backlash from Korean netizens who questioned her acting skills.

“I believed it was right to work with someone who would give their all. When I first met with Jisoo, she showed great passion, and during the script readings and prep sessions, she worked extremely hard… Jisoo put in a lot of effort to suit the character, and now, I’m very satisfied with her performance.” — Kim Byung-woo

Fans were not convinced, arguing that effort alone does not guarantee good acting. Many compared the situation to past controversies where idols were cast for popularity rather than skill.

“Are other actors not trying hard, then?”
“That’s such a ridiculous reason.”
“This is giving déjà vu from that Squid Game director interview, almost the same vibe.”
“This is clearly just aiming for international audiences.”
“Trying hard isn’t enough. You have to be good. To be honest, just hearing she’s in it made me lose all interest. Her past acting was shockingly bad.”
“She really can’t act, sigh…”

Character Changes Add Fuel to the Fire

The backlash grew when the movie’s trailer showed Jisoo’s character, Lee Ji-hye, holding a gun instead of a sword. In the original novel, Lee Ji-hye is linked to Admiral Yi Sun-sin, a historical figure known for swordsmanship. Fans called the change disrespectful to Korean history.

“Btch she can stand out by herself. She is the most popular, she is already standing out. Give your gun to someone else to make ’em stand out. Lee Jihye’s main specialty was she very good at sword in that story they called her the (samorayy girl). I don’t know how this is a good idea.”

Director Kim explained that the change was made to make her character visually stand out, but fans found the reasoning weak. Some accused the production of altering the story for global appeal.

“bro they’re plotting on her downfall,” one fan wrote.

Mixed Reactions from Fans

While criticism dominates, some fans defended Jisoo, urging others to wait for the movie’s release before judging. Others blamed the director for putting her in a difficult position.

“Js was already hated by some ORV fans when the cast members was announced. Now she got drag again by some ORV fans for changing the weapon just bcoz the director wanted to make her stand out when it’s not needed.”

The film’s CEO, Won Dong-yeon, stated that the original author approved the changes, but skepticism remains.

“When making the movie, I showed the original author the entire scenario in advance, explained everything that was being adapted, and the author understood everything.” — Won Dong-yeon

ALSO READ: WATCH: “Omniscient Reader: The Prophet” Drops Intense Trailer and Posters; Film Hits Theaters July 23

Despite the backlash, the movie remains highly anticipated due to its star-studded cast, including Lee Min-ho and Ahn Hyo-seop.

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