‘Hi.5’ director addresses Yoo Ah In controversy

On May 12 KST, a production briefing for the film ‘Hi.5’ (directed by Kang Hyoung Chul, distributed by NEW, produced by Annapurna Films) was held at Lotte Cinema Konkuk University in Seoul. The event was hosted by Park Kyung Lim and attended by director Kang Hyoung Chul, along with cast members Lee Jae In, Ahn Jae Hong, Ra Mi Ran, Kim Hee Won, Oh Jung Se, and Park Jin Young.

‘Hi.5’ is an action comedy about five individuals who gain supernatural powers through organ transplants and find themselves caught up in chaos as others seek to exploit their abilities.

However, the film comes with the baggage of lead actor Yoo Ah In’s legal controversy. Yoo was indicted without detention for violating the Narcotics Control Act, having received 181 propofol injections between 2020 and 2022, and illegally obtaining sleeping pills 44 times under another person’s name from 2021 to 2022. He was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for two years, fined 2 million KRW, and ordered to pay a forfeiture of 1.54 million KRW, complete 80 hours of community service, and attend 40 hours of drug treatment education. The prosecution has filed an appeal, and the case is currently awaiting a Supreme Court decision.

Regarding the issue, director Kang Hyoung Chul commented, “It’s an unfortunate situation. I wish it hadn’t happened.” He added, “At the time, the film wasn’t completed yet—we were in the middle of post-production. I remember reading something when I was young that said, ‘When a major problem arises, a competent leader must first find a solution.’”

He continued, “As the director and person in charge, I felt my responsibility was to focus on finishing the film. I had a strong sense of duty to complete the work of all the actors involved. So I focused on post-production. In terms of editing, very little was altered. That’s how we were ultimately able to release the film as it is today.”

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