From left, Kim Soo-hyun, Sulli, Jo Woo-jin, and director Lee Sa-rang pose at a press screening for the movie "Real." Hankook Ilbo file

The older brother of the late actress and singer Sulli (Choi Jin-ri) has publicly demanded a clear statement from actor Kim Soo-hyun and director Lee Sa-rang, also known as Lee Ro-be, who directed the 2017 film "Real."

On Friday, Choi, Sulli's brother, posted on social media a screenshot of a news article along with a caption that read, "Gold, please respond as soon as possible with the answer I want. Not the words you want to say."

Earlier, he had also written, "Six years since sending off my sister. Six years you played with her. Six years of pain coming your way. Don't break too soon."

That same day, Sports Kyunghyang released a statement from Choi, in which he expressed both grief and resolve. "Although I've spent the past six years in deep sorrow and tears, I've also felt immense gratitude for the support and kindness of many people. Still, I could not overlook the death of the late Kim Sae-ron as if it were someone else's business. I extend my deepest condolences to Kim Sae-ron's family," the statement read.

Choi specifically raised questions regarding "a bed scene during the filming of ‘Real' in 2017." He said, "While much of this information isn't widely known and exact facts are hard to confirm, I've heard that a body double was on set despite claims that she couldn't come due to illness. Since the people involved are no longer with us, it's difficult to verify. But I ask Kim Soo-hyun and then-director Lee Sa-rang (Lee Ro-be) to clarify their positions."

He continued, "During the funeral, I heard from staff and fellow actors that the bed scene between Sulli and Kim Soo-hyun was not originally so detailed in the script. I want to hear Kim Soo-hyun's position on this. Also, I understand that there was a nude scene involving a body double, and that the double was actually on set. Why then was Sulli persuaded to do the scene herself, and why was she pressured into filming that bed and nude scene?"

Choi also questioned reports that the body double could not attend due to illness. "According to testimonies from people at the funeral, the double was at the scene, so I want clarification from Kim Soo-hyun and the director about what actually happened."

"Real," released in 2017, starred Kim Soo-hyun and Sulli. The film featured several high-intensity scenes, including nudity. Director Lee Sa-rang was also a co-founder of Gold Medalist, Kim Soo-hyun's current agency. According to Sulli's family, she suffered significant psychological distress after filming the movie.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.