Actress Yoo In Na arrives for the 47th PaekSang Art Awards at Kyunghee University Art Center on May 26, 2011 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo : Getty Images/Chung Sung-Jun)
The Korean actress Yoo In Na is said to have been dropped from the Chinese remake of the drama "Queen In Hyun's Man" given the THAAD conflict between China and South Korea. However, a recent statement made by CJ E&M has shed light on Yoo's real reason for leaving the series.
Avid Korean drama fans may recall Yoo's portrayal of aspiring actress Choi Hee Jin who met a time-traveling Joseon dynasty scholar in the 2012 tvN drama "Queen In Hyun's Man." The fantasy romance and action series has been exported to China where a remake is currently in the works. The South Korean star has also been slated to portray the lead role in the said Chinese series titled "Shuttle Love Millennium 2."
However, recent reports have indicated that China's Hunan TV has decided to drop Yoo from the drama's casting list. A report posted on The Korea Times has shared that the said Chinese TV station "abruptly informed" the actress of her exclusion from the upcoming 28-episode series. Hunan TV reportedly did not disclose the reason behind its decision, although speculations hinted that it may be due to the ongoing China-South Korea THAAD conflict.
China has previously expressed its views against South Korea's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. Chinese officials claimed that South Korea's decision to deploy the said anti-missile defense system can be viewed as a threat to national security. The conflict has also resulted in the Chinese government's recent move to limit the appearance of South Korean celebrities on local TV programs, including imposing stricter guidelines on concert performances and fan events.
On the other hand, a statement made by the South Korean entertainment and media company CJ E&M has clarified that Yoo's departure from the series was not due to the THAAD conflict. The entertainment firm revealed on Wednesday, Aug. 31, that scheduling conflicts have prompted the actress' to leave the Chinese remake of "Queen In Hyun's Man," allkpop reported.
It appears that the combination of the Chinese drama's filming delays, along with Yoo's other work commitments in Korea has resulted to an overlap in schedules. The actress is set to star in the upcoming series "Goblin" alongside Gong Yoo and Lee Dong Wook. "She decided to depart after discussion with the producers," CJ E&M stated.
Meanwhile, relive some of the interesting moments in the tvN drama "Queen In Hyun's Man" below:
