Korea’s “Unluckiest” Actress And Her 5 Problematic Male Co-Stars
The Korean entertainment industry is notoriously unforgiving. A single scandal can put everything on the line. K-Drama and K-Movie stars have been, and continue to be, dropped from casts or edited out of completed projects after becoming embroiled in controversy.
That said, one actress has earned an unfortunate reputation for having the worst luck when it comes to working with scandal-free co-stars. Not once, not twice, but five times, actress Han Ji Min has found herself sharing the screen with male co-stars who later became mired in controversy—situations that, in turn, risked impacting her projects as well.
1. Kang Ji Hwan
Actor Kang Ji Hwan appeared in the 2007 KBS K-Drama Capital Scandal alongside Han Ji Min as her love interest. The pair was highly praised for their undeniable chemistry throughout the show, later receiving the “Best Couple” award at the KBS Drama Awards.
But then, in 2019, the actor was arrested for charges of sexually assaulting two women. It was reported that Kang Ji Hwan drank with two female staff members at his home, then raped one of the women when she fell asleep, and sexually harassed the other. While he initially denied any wrongdoing, he soon admitted to being guilty of all charges.
Kang Ji Hwan’s Victims Reveal Everything That Happened During The Night Of The Rape
Many avid K-Drama viewers have since cited Capital Scandal as a show they will never be able to watch again because of Kang Ji Hwan’s criminal background.
2. Jung Woo Sung
In 2011, actor Jung Woo Sung led the JTBC K-Drama Padam Padam… The Sound of His and Her Heartbeats with Han Ji Min. This romance-genre show became one of the earliest “cable TV” hits at the time, even re-running from 2015 to 2016, all thanks to the leads.
Years later, however, Jung Woo Sung became one of the industry’s most talked-about figures after details of his messy love life surfaced. While the actor has remained active and continues to build his career in the aftermath, his name still frequently revives the controversy, casting a lingering shadow over his past and present projects.
Jung Woo Sung Registers Marriage With Another Woman Less Than A Year After Moon Gabi’s Exposé
3. Park Yoochun
Former TVXQ member-turned-actor Park Yoochun co-starred with Han Ji Min in SBS‘s 2012 K-Drama, Rooftop Prince. Like with Kang Ji Hwan, Han Ji Min was able to snag another “Best Couple” award with Park Yoochun, proving her convincing acting skills. While, at the time, Rooftop Prince became one of the most beloved K-Dramas…
…fans now list it as a “do not watch,” in an effort to refrain from “supporting criminals,” given Park Yoochun’s massive drug scandal.
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4. Lee Min Ki
When it was announced that actor Lee Min Ki had been cast along Han Ji Min for JTBC’s 2023 K-Drama Behind Your Touch…
…some couldn’t help but remember the male lead’s past involvement in a sexual assault scandal. While he was cleared of all charges, the controversy continues to resurface whenever his name is mentioned, leading to divided opinions about his casting.
5. Park Sung Hoon
When actor Park Sung Hoon, of The Glory and Squid Game fame, was announced as a co-star alongside Han Ji Min in an upcoming 2026 JTBC webtoon-based romance, Efficient Dating For Singles, reactions were inevitably mixed. While some viewers welcomed his return…
…others were quick to recall the controversy that had recently followed him. Earlier in 2025, Park Sung Hoon faced backlash after accidentally posting an explicit Squid Game parody image on his personal social media, a misstep that ultimately cost him a role in another K-Drama. Although he issued a public apology and has since resumed acting, the incident continues to resurface in discussions about his work, leaving his casting a point of contention for some viewers.
“Squid Game’s” Scandal-Ridden Actor To Return With Another Romance K-Drama—Sees Blistering Reactions
