Kim Soo Hyun's agency addresses Sulli's controversial nude scene in Real amid backlash: 'Late actress was fully aware of nudity'

Kim Soo Hyun's agency, Gold Medalist, recently released a detailed statement addressing the controversy surrounding the late actress and K-pop idol Sulli's nude scenes in the 2017 film Real. The neo-noir action film, which also starred Kim Soo Hyun, has sparked debate online, especially in light of the actor's underage dating scandal with Kim Sae Ron. The statement follows questions raised by Sulli's older brother, who sought clarification on three key issues.

What were the three queries raised by Sulli's brother?

Sulli's brother recently sought explanations for her scenes in the 2017 film Real, directed by Kim Soo Hyun's cousin, Lee Sa Rang, under the pseudonym Lee Ro Be. He posed three key questions, emphasising the need for clarity.

"As Sulli's brother, I want to know the truth," he said. "There are three main questions regarding 'Real' that remain unanswered."

Firstly, he noted that the script was not finalised, raising concerns about the filming process. Secondly, he questioned the use of a body double for Sulli's exposure scene, highlighting discrepancies in the initial explanation.

"It was said that the body double couldn't make it to the set due to illness, but it's been revealed that they were actually present," he explained. "So, why was the scene shot the way it was? We still don't have an answer."

Sulli's brother emphasised the importance of transparency, stating, "We need to know what really happened during filming."

Gold Medalist shares a lengthy statement on Sulli's naked scene

On April 2, 2025, Gold Medalist issued a statement addressing the ongoing controversy surrounding Real.

According to the statement, Sulli was fully aware of the explicit scenes, including nudity, required for her role in the movie. The agency emphasised that Sulli had consented to these scenes, which has sparked further debate about the film's production and Sulli's involvement.

Read their complete statement below:

"Hello, this is GOLD MEDALLIST.

We would like to issue an official statement regarding the recent discussion surrounding the film Real.

First, we would like to express our deepest condolences for the late actress Choi Jinri (Sulli). The role of Song Yoo Hwa, the female lead portrayed by the late Choi Jinri, included a bed scene from when the script was first being written. Therefore, when we were casting for the role, we clearly stated that a requirement was being open to performing scenes involving nudity. Just as job postings specify necessary qualifications, the role of Song Yoo Hwa inherently required nudity, and it was essential that this be communicated in advance. We believe that discussing such scenes only after casting could place undue pressure or create a sense of being coerced for the actor.

The version of the script provided to the late actress and her then-agency included the bed scene, and the character briefing materials for Song Yoo Hwa contained visual references for the level of nudity. Furthermore, the contract explicitly included a clause outlining the scope of nudity. The late actress and her agency fully reviewed these materials before agreeing to participate in the film.

Nonetheless, as bed scenes require significant courage from actors, the production team ensured thorough preparation beforehand. The late actress was well-informed about the scene in advance and approached the filming with this understanding.¡±

Addressing Sulli's brother's concern, the agency denied the use of a body double for Sulli's scenes and clarified that Kim Soo Hyun had no involvement in the film's production, directly addressing concerns raised by Sulli's brother.

Sulli in the movie Real| Credit: X

Regarding the concerns raised by her older brother:

About the bed scene: The late actress was fully aware of the scene beforehand and participated in filming accordingly.

About the body double: There was no acting body double. Rather, a stand-in actor was used during preparation stages to help with camera positioning and blocking, not to perform the acting.

We are attaching written statements of fact from Real¡®s assistant director Kim Jung Ok and script supervisor Lee Joon Hyun, who were present for the filming of all scenes, including the bed scene. Also, we would like to clarify that Kim Soo Hyun, who appeared in the film, was not involved in the scenario, storyboard, or filming decisions, which fall entirely under the production team¡¯s domain.

As confirmed by key staff members of the production, both the late actress and her agency had full knowledge of the role¡¯s requirements. It is inconceivable for any production to coerce an actor into bed or nude scenes on set.¡±

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