Seo Ye Ji, the acclaimed South Korean actress, recently made a rare appearance on the variety show “Huh Young Man’s Food Travel” on March 30, 2025. This marked her first variety show outing in eight years, but her return has been overshadowed by ongoing controversies involving fellow actor Kim Soo Hyun.
During the show, Seo Ye Ji candidly discussed the stress she experiences due to public misconceptions about her personality. She attributed these misunderstandings to her convincing portrayals of complex and often dark characters in dramas such as “Save Me” (2017) and “Lawless Lawyer” (2018), EVE, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay.
“Iโve been mistaken many times for the characters I play,”
she shared, highlighting the difficulty of separating her on-screen roles from her real-life identity.
As a public figure for over a decade, Seo Ye Ji has learned to navigate the pressures that come with fame.
“Iโve come to accept that the pressure comes with being a public figure. I must endure how people perceive me,”
she stated.
However, she admitted that the misconceptions can be particularly burdensome.
“Sometimes I receive a lot of stress from misconceptions that spread even when Iโve said nothing at all,”
she confessed, offering insight into the emotional challenges of living in the public eye.
Seo Ye Ji’s revelations are especially poignant given the recent controversies linking her to Kim Soo Hyun. The actor has been embroiled in a scandal involving allegations of dating a minor, the late Kim Sae Ron. Amid these claims, Seo Ye Ji has been unwillingly dragged into the narrative, with some alleging she was involved as one of Kim Soo Hyun’s “concubines.” She has firmly denied any such involvement.
In a heartfelt message to her fans on her official fancafe, Seo Ye Ji expressed her frustration over the persistent rumors.
“I wish people would… please… stop. I am in no way affiliated with him and his cousin. I donโt even know why I have to explain myself… but Iโm just extra frustrated tonight,”
she wrote, addressing her loyal fanbase, Yeyes.
Adding another layer to the situation, there are allegations that Seo Ye Ji’s former agency, GOLDMEDALIST, orchestrated a smear campaign against her. A former employee claimed that the agency framed Seo Ye Ji for school bullying to divert attention from scandals involving Kim Soo Hyun and his cousin, Lee Sa Rang. GOLDMEDALIST has categorically denied these accusations, labeling them as “entirely false” and urging the public to refrain from spreading unverified information.
Despite the tumultuous backdrop, fans have warmly welcomed Seo Ye Ji’s return to the screen. Her appearance on “Huh Young Man’s Food Travel” is her first variety show since 2017, and many are hopeful that she can move forward from the current controversies.
Seo Ye Ji’s openness about her struggles with public perception and the stress caused by misconceptions provides a candid look at the personal toll of fame. As she navigates these challenges, her fans continue to support her, eager to see her thrive in her career.
