Seo Ye Ji is returning to the spotlight through the theater.
On December 29, her agency Sublime announced, “Seo Ye Ji will star in the stage play 'Hymn of Death,' which opens on January 30 next year.” This marks her first return to acting in four years since the tvN drama 'Eve,' which concluded in 2022. Notably, this will be her first-ever challenge in theater, rather than television or film.
'Hymn of Death' is a play that depicts the love of artists living through the turbulent 1920s, along with their unrelenting yearning for freedom. In the production, Seo Ye Ji will portray Yoon Sim Deok, a tragic soprano whose life shook the era.
Yoon Sim Deok is a complex character who, despite the oppression of her time, refuses to relinquish art, love, and her own choices. In this adaptation, she is reimagined not merely as a figure swept away by tragedy but as an autonomous woman who actively determines her life and relationships. Attention is focused on how Seo Ye Ji, known for her nuanced acting, will bring depth to this role.
The 2026 season of 'Hymn of Death' is expected to present its characters in a more multidimensional way. As a result, Seo Ye Ji’s transformation—following her powerful performances in dramas and films—is anticipated to significantly elevate the overall quality of the production. Her theater debut will run from January 30 to March 2, 2026, at the M Theater of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul.
Seo Ye Ji made her entertainment industry debut in 2013 through the tvN sitcom 'Potato Star 2013QR3.' She later gained recognition through works such as 'It’s Okay to Not Be Okay,' 'Save Me,' and the film 'Recalled.' However, in 2021, she halted all activities after allegations emerged that she had engaged in “gaslighting” her then-boyfriend, actor Kim Jung Hyun.
At the time, it was reported that Seo Ye Ji referred to Kim Jung Hyun as “Kim Ddak Ddak” and instructed him to behave coldly toward his co-star. Publicly revealed messages allegedly showed Seo Ye Ji telling him, “No touching,” and “Stiff Kim, refrain from all physical contact. ” Following the controversy, she suspended her career. Although she returned in 2022 with the tvN drama 'Eve,' further allegations regarding falsified academic credentials led her to step back from activities once again.
In response to the academic background controversy, her agency stated, “She did receive an acceptance notice from Complutense University of Madrid in Spain and was preparing to enroll, but due to beginning her activities in Korea, she was unable to attend the university normally.”
More recently, Seo Ye Ji personally addressed rumors involving actor Kim Soo Hyun. In March, she shared a screenshot of a foreign netizen’s comment on her fan café and wrote, “I have absolutely no relationship with him (Kim Soo Hyun) or his cousin.” She added, “I’m only human, so this has been overwhelming, exhausting, tiresome, sad, and suffocating. I’ve endured and endured. I really wish it would stop now.”
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