Ock Joo-hyun revisits 2022 casting dispute

SBS reported that musical actress Ock Joo-hyun has brought up again the so-called Ock floor mat controversy that spread through the musical industry 4 years ago. According to SBS, she posted a lengthy statement on social media about the 2022 dispute, which at the time led to a legal complaint between actors.

In the post cited by SBS, Ock wrote that she had believed silence was the best response. She also said she suffered damage in works and advertising under the Ock floor mat frame and added that she hoped her name would no longer be used for ridicule.

According to SBS, the controversy began after the casting announcement for the 10th-anniversary run of the musical Elisabeth in 2022. SBS said some fans questioned the casting after many existing actors were absent, and allegations of connection-based casting spread because actors close to Ock were appearing.

SBS reported that, amid the dispute, musical actor Kim Ho-young posted a photo of a floor mat with a photo of a theater on his social media account and wrote, 'The old word was mess; now it is Ock floor mat.' Interpretations that the post was aimed at Ock spread quickly, and Ock filed a defamation complaint against Kim, according to SBS.

SBS said Ock later withdrew the complaint after the issue widened across the musical industry. Kim's side said at the time that they had spoken directly, cleared up misunderstandings and agreed not to mention the matter further, according to SBS.

In her latest post, however, Ock said she had never received an apology from Kim Ho-young, SBS reported. She said she withdrew the complaint because she did not want the controversy to grow further, and she also said she tried to end the matter after hearing the explanation that the post had not targeted her and had promoted a friend's father's floor mat.

SBS quoted Ock as adding that if the words truly were not directed at her, she wanted to ask why so many people thought of her and why the resulting damage was never explained even once. SBS reported that online responses included views that Ock's decision to speak directly was understandable given the damage she said she experienced, while others said the original remark should be considered in the context of the casting dispute.

SBS said Ock's statement after 4 years has drawn attention again to the fact that the conflict at the time had not been fully resolved. According to SBS, Kim Ho-young's side had not released a separate statement.

I thought staying silent was the best thing to do.

I have never received an apology from Kim Ho-young.