Director Lee Jung Sub, who helmed the 2017 film 'Real,' has spoken publicly about the controversy surrounding the late singer and actress Sulli’s nude scene in the movie. His statement follows a request from Sulli’s family for an official response from actor Kim Soo Hyun's team regarding the circumstances of the scene.

On March 28, Lee took to his personal account, referencing a tweet he posted years ago about the directorial change during the film's production. "Someone recently mentioned that tweet again, probably because the actress is being talked about again. But let me be clear now that the film has been released — I had absolutely zero responsibility for how that film turned out," he wrote. "Thank you. It’s been painful for a long time."

Sulli’s older brother, identified as Mr. Choi, shared through Kwon Young Chan, head of the Korea Entertainment Suicide Prevention Association, that he first heard suspicious details surrounding the nude scene during Sulli’s funeral in 2019. 

According to Choi, there were claims that although a body double had been arranged for the bed scene, the double was allegedly present on set, contrary to the explanation that she was absent due to illness. He stated, “Now that the person involved is no longer with us, it is difficult to verify the truth, but we would like to hear from Kim Soo Hyun’s side and Lee Sa Rang, who replaced the original director during post-production.”

Choi posed several questions, including:

• Whether the explicit nature of the bed scene was part of the original script, and if not, what Kim Soo Hyun’s position on it was.

• Why a body double was not used despite reportedly being on-site.

• Whether Sulli was pressured into doing the nude scene herself.

• The truth behind the claim that the body double was ill, despite funeral attendees asserting her presence on set.

'Real' is a noir action film centered around two men entangled in a battle over Asia's largest casino. Originally directed by Lee Jung Sub, the film underwent a directorial switch during post-production, with Lee Sa Rang — Kim Soo Hyun's cousin and head of the production company — stepping in to complete the film. At the time, the production company stated the change was due to creative differences.

Now, eight years after its release, 'Real' is once again under public scrutiny amid renewed controversy involving Kim Soo Hyun. The resurfacing of Sulli’s bed scene has prompted Lee Jung Sub to break his silence. The director has also shared posts critical of Kim Soo Hyun regarding recent allegations that the actor had a romantic relationship with the late actress Kim Sae Ron while she was still a minor. Lee expressed strong emotions in a comment, calling it “the same disgraceful tactic” and referring to the incident as “trauma XX.”

Kim Soo Hyun is currently facing allegations that he dated Kim Sae Ron starting in 2015 when she was just 16. The late actress’s family made the claim via the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute (HoverLab), stating that the two were involved from 2015 to 2021. 

Although Kim’s agency Gold Medalist initially denied the claims as “entirely false,” they later adjusted their position, saying the relationship began in 2019 after Kim Sae Ron became a legal adult, following the release of couple photos of the two.

SEE ALSO: Kang Ji Yong, Kwon Eun Bi's cousin and recent 'Divorce Camp' cast member, dies at 36