A recent news article highlighting the success of Song Hye Kyo's new film 'Dark Nuns' has sparked controversy among Korean netizens due to its comparisons with Song Joong Ki's movie 'Bogotá: City of the Lost.' The article titled, "Song Hye Kyo Triumphs Over Song Joong Ki… ‘Black Nuns’ Tops the Box Office on Opening Day" by TenAsia which claimed Song Hye Kyo’s film was a box office hit while describing Song Joong Ki’s movie as a flop, has drawn criticism for what many see as unnecessary and inflammatory remarks.
The article pointed out that 'Dark Nuns' topped the box office on its opening day with over 160,000 viewers, while 'Bogotá: City of the Lost' struggled, recording just over 400,000 viewers in total since its release last month. However, netizens were quick to call out the piece for comparing the two films, attributing the comparison to the actors’ past relationship, as the two stars are divorced.
The article stated, "Released on December 31, 'Bogotá: City of the Lost' had a production budget of 12.5 billion KRW (8.7 million USD) but managed to draw only slightly over 400,000 viewers in total. The film failed to make it into the top 20 at the box office and closed its run quietly. On its opening day, it recorded an audience of 100,000 viewers and secured the No. 2 spot in ticket reservations. In contrast, Black Nuns has been generating significant buzz, particularly for Song Hye Kyo’s remarkable performance as Sister Unia, a character unlike any seen before. Jeon Yeo Been’s transformation into Sister Michaela, a character with a complex inner world, has also received glowing praise from viewers. As the Lunar New Year holiday approaches, all eyes are on Black Nuns as it is expected to continue its strong momentum. The film’s popularity is projected to grow even further during the upcoming holiday weekend."
Korean netizens criticized, "Look at this headline…" "Wow, TenAsia really messed up this time," "Seriously, this is just relentless. Dragging together two people who divorced six years ago… tsk tsk. Do they think this will get them more clicks?" "Wow, what even is this article? Feels like a bait post from an online community. Unbelievable," "This article is trash. Honestly, it makes me curse out loud. It’s so unfair to Song Joong Ki," "What a garbage article," and "The headline is exactly what you’d expect from trashy tabloid-level journalism."
Amid the backlash, the article was edited to remove references to Song Joong Ki’s film. The updated version focuses solely on the success of 'Dark Nuns' and the positive reception it has received from viewers.
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