The 2017 film “Real” is making an unexpected comeback, this time on Netflix Korea, where it climbed to No. 4 on the platform’s Top 10 Movies in South Korea Today list as of March 30. The sudden spike in viewership follows a wave of renewed controversy surrounding lead actor Kim Soo-hyun, particularly regarding allegations connected to the late Sulli.
According to Netflix, the top 5 most-watched movies in Korea currently include:
- Revelations
- The Electric State
- Lim Young Woong: I’m Hero the Stadium
- Real
- I, the Executioner
Two days later, according to Netflix on April 1, amid renewed controversy surrounding Kim Soo-hyun’s press conference and the late Sulli’s nude scenes in the film “Real,” the 2017 movie has seen a dramatic resurgence in popularity, climbing to No. 2 on Netflix Korea’s Top 10 films list. First place went to “Revelations,” followed by “Real” and “The Electric State” in third.
As public scrutiny over the film’s past grows, Real’s unexpected streaming success highlights how controversy can reignite interest in even the most polarizing titles.
“Real,” which starred Kim Soo-hyun in dual roles and was directed by his cousin Lee Ro-bae, was a 2017 box office flop widely criticized for its confusing narrative. However, the film has recently resurfaced amid renewed controversies involving Kim Soo-hyun’s private life.
The most serious claims come from Sulli’s older brother, who alleged that Sulli was coerced into filming nude scenes that weren’t originally in the script, despite the reported availability of a body double. These accusations, paired with ongoing scrutiny over Kim’s alleged underage relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron, have intensified public backlash.
Adding to the speculation, the Garo Sero Institute pointed out the film’s brief cameos by top female idols like Suzy, IU, and Ahn So-hee, raising concerns about whether their roles were professionally appropriate or driven by personal ties to the actor.
While “Real” was a commercial disaster during its theatrical release, it’s now enjoying newfound visibility on Netflix, likely driven less by interest in the film’s content and more by public fascination with the scandal surrounding it. As Kim Soo-hyun faces increasing public scrutiny, “Real”‘s climb up the streaming charts serves as a reminder that in the digital age, controversy can drive content to the top, even for all the wrong reasons.
