Lee Naeun to return with major role in The Defects: Everything to know about Won Jin Ah starrer and APRIL disbandment
Lee Naeun returns amid past APRIL controversy
Lee Naeun's return has taken many by surprise. In 2020, she became embroiled in a high-profile controversy. Former APRIL member Lee Hyunjoo alleged she had been b*llied during her time in the group. A post made by someone claiming to be Hyunjoo's younger brother went viral. He accused fellow members, including Naeun, of contributing to the singer's departure.
Additional anonymous posts surfaced online, intensifying the accusations. At the time, APRIL's agency DSP Media denied all claims. Naeun herself issued a personal statement through the official fan café, strongly refuting the allegations. Despite maintaining her innocence, the backlash led to Naeun suspending all activities. In 2022, APRIL officially disbanded.
Lee Naeun's role in The Defects
The Defects follows a group of children who narrowly survive death after being betrayed by their adoptive families. Thrown into a world of abandonment and violence, these children form a close-knit group. They fight for survival while seeking revenge against the adults who failed them.
Lee Naeun plays Somi, one of the abandoned children. She, despite her tragic past, exudes strength and positivity. Somi draws hope from her bond with Ahyeon, the group's leader, portrayed by actress Won Jin Ah. The role marks a shift for Naeun, who is known for lighter, youth-centered roles, making this project her most emotionally intense yet.
Naeun's casting receives mixed reactions from the public
News of Naeun's casting has quickly spread online, with many viewers expressing shock at her return. Although she made brief appearances in Crash and Flex X Cop in 2024, they were limited to guest roles. This time, however, she takes on a supporting role with significantly more screen time. It prompted netizens to take greater notice of her return.
Some fans are cautiously optimistic about her comeback. However, others remain skeptical due to the unresolved nature of the past controversy. Whether this marks a fresh start or sparks further debate remains to be seen.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Indian Express
Late Parasite actor Lee Sun Kyun's wife, Jeon Hye Jin shares rare update on life after comeback
It's been nearly two years since the Korean entertainment world lost one of its most respected figures, Lee Sun Kyun. His wife, actress Jeon Hye Jin, ended her long hiatus with a powerful return to acting earlier this year. On August 9, fans marked her birthday with a special evening at a café in Yongsan, Seoul, an event funded entirely by them. In an unexpected turn, Jeon showed up in person, a rare public appearance since the tragedy. Also read: Lee Sun-kyun death: Parasite actor underwent 19-hour interrogation in drugs case, had asked for a lie detector test to prove innocence In pictures acquired from Daum, Jeon could be seen walking around looking at the fan-prepared merchandise. Later, she posed for photos and interacted with everyone present during the celebration. Dressed casually in a loose shirt, she looked healthy, smiling brightly and showing a more approachable side. 생일 카페에 전혜진 배우님이 방문해 주셨어요🍀 — 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝑴𝒚 𝑯𝒚𝒆𝒋𝒊𝒏 : 2025 전혜진 생일카페 (@dearmyhyejin810) August 9, 2025 The public appearance comes after a difficult period in her life. In December 2023, Jeon faced a heartbreaking loss when her husband, Lee Sun Kyun, was found dead in his car. Authorities ruled it a suicide. Lee, whose film Parasite won four Academy Awards, was a household name not only in South Korea but worldwide. Before his death, he was set to make a K-drama comeback with No Way Out, which had already begun filming. But just days in, he became embroiled in a drug investigation, forcing him to withdraw from the role. Known for his controversy-free image, Lee was suddenly thrust into relentless accusations, none of which were ever proven. Two months before his death, he suffered a dramatic fall from grace after claims surfaced that he had taken drugs at a bar hostess's home, an allegation that fueled heavy scrutiny in the country. Amid the investigation, including an almost 19-hour questioning session right before his death, Lee reportedly took his own life. His lifeless body was found in his car, next to charcoal briquettes. Also read: 'Donald Trump asked me out right after my divorce': Emma Thompson claims she could have changed the course of American political history Lee was married to actor Jeon Hye Jin, with whom he shared two children. Earlier this year, in March, she made her acting comeback in the ENA Monday-Tuesday drama Mother and Mom. Both her role and the drama were well received by fans. Her return to the big screen is making headlines as well. Jeon stars in Mission: Cross, a thriller directed by Lee Myung Hoon, released on Netflix on August 9. The story follows Kang Mu (played by Hwang Jung Min), a former agent living as a househusband to hide his past from his wife, Mi Sun (played by Yeom Jung Ah), a homicide detective. Things take a turn when Mi Sun uncovers clues about her husband's secret life, pulling them into a dangerous mission where lives are at stake. Jeon plays Hee Joo, a former colleague of Kang Mu who reappears in his life because of a mysterious case.
The Hindu
09-08-2025
- The Hindu
Ctrl+Alt+Cinema: Takopi's Original Sin and April
Whether you're an old hand at arthouse or just dipping a toe into the rising otaku subculture of anime aficionados around the world, this column lists curated titles that challenge, comfort, and occasionally combust your expectations. This week's picks for Ctrl+Alt+Cinema couldn't be more different on the surface — one's a six-episode anime about a pink alien octopus trying to spread joy, the other is a stark Georgian drama about a rural doctor under scrutiny for her role in a botched delivery — but both are crushing portraits of what happens when the structures meant to care for people fail them. From the drawing board Takopi's Original Sin sounds like the kind of show you'd expect to cheer you up after a long day. It's got a smiling alien octopus from Happy Planet, here to help a little girl with magical gadgets and good intentions. But before the end of the first episode, it's quite clear that this isn't that kind of story. The show follows the titular tentacled alien, whose naivety and earnestness bump up against a world far more complicated than it can afford to understand. Shizuka, the girl he wants to help, lives with a sadness that no gadget can erase, and Takopi will not stop at trying to make her smile once more. Streaming now on Crunchyroll and already breaking viewing records, Takopi is the surprise anime triumph of 2025. Adapted from Taizan 5's manga and helmed by Made in Abyss director Shinya Iino, this six-episode gem weaponises its cute camouflage, only to peel it back towards something deeply, disturbingly human. Like Hirokazu Kore-eda's Monster (2023), Takopi explores the ways children are shaped and sometimes shattered by the choices of adults. Fans of Wonder Egg Priority, BoJack Horseman, or even Requiem for a Dream will also feel right at home (or rather, right on edge). What makes Takopi remarkable is how deftly it binds character, form, and feeling. The gorgeous art shifts from childlike sketches and chiaroscuro dread, while the writing threads together multiple perspectives into a tightly wound gut-punch. If you've ever loved something like A Silent Voice, or found yourself undone by the emotional honesty of Look Back, this is the anime to sit with. Foreign affairs While most films about abortion tend to frame the issue as a binary of choice and consequence, Dea Kulumbegashvili's April is after the emotional weather of female agency under siege. It also begins with one of the creepiest, most unsettling opening shots you're likely to see this year. Currently streaming on MUBI, the film follows Nina, an obstetrician-gynecologist in rural Georgia, who performs abortions in secret and who comes under malpractice investigation after a botched delivery. Dea, whose 2020-film Beginning announced her as a major voice in Georgian cinema, now returns with greater maturity and restraint. It's a slow, unsettling portrait of a woman pushed to the edges and Dea's direction is exacting and spare. What makes April especially important right now is when and where it arrived. The film openly portrays abortion and the desperation of women seeking it, which is a rarity in Georgian cinema. Even though abortion is still legal in Georgia, the film has been inexplicably banned there, likely because it dares to speak openly about a subject that the majorly orthodox population still wants to keep hidden. It also comes at a time when reproductive rights are under a global siege, and sits with the weight of what it means to be a woman trying to make choices in a world that keeps trying to restrict them. If you appreciated the slow, painful revelations of Eliza Hittman's Never Rarely Sometimes Always or the moral complexity of Cristian Mungiu's 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, April belongs on your list. It's not easy to watch, but in this moment, few films feel more necessary. Ctrl+Alt+Cinema is a fortnightly column that brings you handpicked gems from the boundless offerings of world cinema and anime
Time of India
08-08-2025
- Time of India
Koo Kyo Hwan set to join Song Kang Ho in thrilling 'Inside Men' remake?
The intense Korean film ' Inside Men ' that gripped viewers with its fresh take on corruption and vengeance is reportedly gearing up for a remake, according to popular reports. This time around, it's reportedly evolving into a full series, and the casting news is sparking major excitement. Released in 2015, the movie set records as Korea's top-grossing R-rated film. According to Box Office Mojo, it earned around 56.9 billion KRW, drawing over 9 million viewers in Korea. This web series version expands the story, exploring hidden narratives from the 1980s and 1990s. Directed by Mo Wan Il, known for successes like 'The World of the Married' and 'The Frog', and written by Lee Ki Chul of 'Escape from Mogadishu', it's shaping up to be a must-binge thriller. Koo Kyo Hwan's Possible Game-Changing Role Koo Kyo Hwan is in discussions to play Ahn Sang Goo, the tough mob boss originally portrayed by Lee Byung Hun in the film. This update hit on December 26, stirring up tons of fan chatter. His agency, Namoo Actors , kept it low-key, noting it's one of several offers he's reviewing. If he signs on the dotted line, it could be explosive. Ahn Sang Goo is a complex character: he handles dirty jobs for political and business elites, gets betrayed by editorial writer Lee Kang Hee , loses his right hand (quite literally), and ends up as a nightclub restroom attendant while plotting his revenge. Koo Kyo Hwan, celebrated for his powerful roles in projects like 'Escape from Mogadishu', could infuse the part with fresh intensity. Fans are already hyped about the potential on-screen dynamic with Song Kang Ho . And speaking of that... by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Paras Sector 59 Gurgaon | Luxury Awaits at Paras Floret Paras The Florett Book Now Undo Song Kang Ho's Leading Role Song Kang Ho, a true icon of Korean cinema , is locked in to portray Lee Kang Hee - a role masterfully done by Baek Yoon Shik in the original. This was announced in September, instantly boosting the project's profile. His performance is expected to delve into the character's cunning nature against the chaotic 80s-90s backdrop. The series is currently in pre-production, with filming slated to start in 2025.
