“Omniscient Reader: The Prophet”, a highly anticipated Korean film, is currently the center of controversy—not just in Korea but across Asia. Despite a strong initial interest, the film has faced a significant backlash mere days after its domestic release. A major point of contention is the misleading use of Jisoo’s image in promotional materials.
From the earliest promotional phases, Jisoo was heavily highlighted by the production team, leading many to believe she would star as the film’s female lead. The buzz suggested that this would mark her official cinematic debut, following a brief cameo in a previous film. Although she did not take part in the main promotional activities later on, the director continued to mention her name in interviews, furthering the misconception that Jisoo had a major role.
In reality, when the film was released, it became clear that Jisoo only appeared for approximately five minutes and her character had virtually no impact on the storyline. Fans were left feeling deceived—and the anger intensified when a newly surfaced movie poster showed Jisoo prominently positioned beside lead actor Ahn Hyo Seop and even ahead of Lee Min Ho, despite her minimal screen time.
This particular poster was displayed outside a movie theater and quickly went viral on platform X (formerly Twitter), with the original post titled: “When the movie isn’t selling.” The caption implied that the film’s production team, in the face of poor box office performance and calls for a boycott, continued to exploit Jisoo’s fame in a last-ditch effort to attract viewers.
Angry netizens commented: “I hope she never works with this director or this team again. The way she’s disrespected and still being used is disgusting. I hope the movie flops hard”, “Stop profiting off Jisoo’s name. She deserves better”, “They ruined the plot and now they’re clinging to Jisoo to fix it?” and “What will casual viewers think when they see Jisoo front and center on the poster? That she tricked them? She’s a victim here too.”
Despite topping Korea’s box office at the moment, national media predict that “Omniscient Reader: The Prophet” will struggle to break even, especially with the current wave of boycotts and overwhelmingly negative reception. With a production cost of 30 billion won, the stakes are high—and the backlash is fierce.
On film review platforms, “Omniscient Reader: The Prophet” has been hit with a barrage of one-star ratings and harsh comments. On Google, it has received a devastating 1 out of 5 score, making it the first Korean film to reach such a critically low point.
Ultimately, the continued use of Jisoo’s image as a promotional tool is not helping—it’s deepening the mistrust and fueling further backlash. What was intended to draw in audiences may end up being the film’s biggest controversy.
K14
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