Actor Kwak Do-won speaks during a press conference for movie "The Man Standing Next" at a theater in Seoul, Jan. 15, 2020. Newsis

Actors Kwak Do-won, Bae Sung-woo, and Choi Seung-hyun, who previously faced public backlash due to scandals involving drunk driving and drug use, are gradually returning to the spotlight through new films and drama series. However, their comeback has been met with chilly receptions from fans, reflecting lingering disappointment over their past actions and the weight of their influence as public figures.

Fans have expressed criticism of the entertainment industry's ethical standards, highlighting how actors involved in scandals often make swift returns to new projects or have their wrongdoings overlooked by industry insiders. They argue that this reflects a troubling disconnect between public expectations and the practices within the industry.

Kwak Do-won, who rose to stardom for his leading role in the 2016 movie, "The Wailing," was caught by police in 2022 when he was found asleep in his car while intoxicated on Jeju Island. Following the incident, he expressed a desire to pause his acting career and reflect on his actions. However, the 51-year-old actor is now preparing to return to the screen with the film, "The Firefighters," set to premiere on Wednesday.

This film, which deals with the sacrifice of firefighters and is based on a 2001 arson case where six firefighters lost their lives, finished filming in September 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Kwak's scandal.

In "The Firefighters," Kwak takes on the role of a seasoned firefighter dedicated to battling blazes despite facing challenges such as inadequate equipment and harsh working conditions.

Kwak Kyung-taek, the director of the film, criticized the actor for causing controversy due to drunk driving, saying that he should reflect on his actions and take responsibility.

"To be honest, I feel very upset toward him (Kwak Do-won)," the director told reporters during a press conference for the movie on Nov. 8. "He must take great responsibility for what he did. He needs time for deep reflection and self-discipline."

The production company of the film has taken a cautious approach to Kwak Do-won's involvement, despite his leading role. His face is noticeably absent from movie posters, screen stills, and promotional events. Even in the film's trailer, his presence is limited to narration, with his voice featured but no on-screen appearances. This strategy seems aimed at minimizing his visibility while acknowledging the challenges of excluding him entirely from the project.

On the day of the film's press preview, the director revealed that they had made minimal edits to remove Kwak's presence.

"We didn't edit to remove actor Kwak Do-won's scenes. We made edits to increase the speed in the beginning because this delayed film feels a bit slow compared to current trends," the director said during a press preview event on Monday.

Actor Bae Sung-woo offers an apology for a 2020 DUI during a press conference for the Netflix's series, "The 8 Show," at a hotel in Seoul, May 10. Newsis

Actor Bae Sung-woo, widely recognized for his supporting roles in numerous films, faced legal consequences in 2020 after being caught driving under the influence. He was subsequently fined for the offense.

After halting all activities, he resumed his acting career with the movie, "Road to Boston," last year and appeared in the Netflix series, "The 8 Show," in May.

"I want to apologize for the disappointment I caused to those who have shown interest and encouragement, and to anyone else who may have been disappointed," Bae apologized during a press conference for "The 8 Show" in May.

Despite Bae Sung-woo's public apology for his actions, the response from audiences remained largely unsympathetic. Even after the series' director, Han Jae-rim, defended the casting decision by saying, "I have seen him feel very sorry and struggle a lot," many viewers were unconvinced and critical of his return to acting.

Seemingly aware of this controversy, Bae is set to skip the production presentation for the upcoming Disney+ series, "Light Shop," on Tuesday.

The Netflix series, "Squid Game" Season 2, features Choi Seung-hyun, a former member of K-pop group Big Bang, who was sentenced to 10 months in prison suspended for two years on drug charges in 2017.

In the recently released trailer for the highly anticipated sequel to the hit series, Choi, better known by his stage name T.O.P, made a bold impression with his striking purple hair. His appearance has sparked curiosity and stirred mixed reactions from the public.

Actor Choi Seung-hyun, whose stage name is T.O.P, appears in a promotional video of Netflix's upcoming series "Squid Game" Season 2. Captured from Neftlix Korea's YouTube Channel

Director Hwang Dong-hyuk defended casting the controversial figure, stating that Choi was necessary for the work.

"I didn't expect it to be so controversial. When casting, I thought it was already a long time ago, and the sentence was over," the director told reporters on Aug. 1.

"More people than I expected expressed concerns, and I thought my thinking might have been short-sighted... This role that Choi Seung-hyun plays is necessary despite concerns. I decided (to cast him) thinking this actor was suitable."

A film industry official said it is also troublesome for production companies to cast these actors.

"It's really painful for production companies when an actor who has already finished filming causes social controversy. If the release of that work is delayed, the production company and staff also suffer damage. Because so much manpower and capital are invested, we inevitably release it late to minimize damage," the official said on condition of anonymity.