Yoo Ah-in, known for his role in Goodbye Earth, saw many of his scenes edited out of the Netflix series following controversy surrounding the actor.
The sci-fi drama, which premiered on April 26, unfolds a dystopian tale set on Earth just months before an asteroid wipes out all life on the planet. Ah-in portrays Yoon Sang-eun, the romantic partner of the main character, Jin Se-kyung, played by Ahn Eun-jin.
Director Kim Jin-min addressed the situation, explaining that Yoo’s scenes were altered due to the controversy stemming from his involvement in a drug-related scandal in October 2023. Although Yoo’s parts were partially removed, they couldn’t completely erase his character from the story, as he played a significant role.
Kim shared his perspective with a Korean news outlet, Nate, expressing his commitment to releasing the series despite the challenges posed by Yoo’s situation.
The director elaborated on the editing process, mentioning that he was already reevaluating the storyline during post-production when the controversy emerged. Yoo faced legal proceedings, including accusations of habitual drug use and obtaining medical narcotics unlawfully.
Consequently, he lost his role in the second season of the South Korean drama Hellbound and was removed from various advertising campaigns.
In Goodbye Earth, Yoo’s absence is noticeable, with his character appearing only at crucial plot points that couldn’t be removed. This alteration in his role underscores the impact of off-screen controversies on an actor’s career trajectory. Despite Yoo’s previous success in projects like Hellbound, #Alive, and Burning, his reputation has suffered due to the scandal.
Looking ahead, it’s uncertain whether Goodbye Earth will continue for a second season, given its dramatic conclusion in the first. If the series does return, it’s unlikely that Yoo will be involved, and the creative team may opt to either recast or exclude his character altogether.
Goodbye Earth is currently available for streaming on Netflix.
