In a shocking confession, actor Ji Jin-hee revealed he was abruptly forced off a TV drama early in his career — cut after filming just two episodes — following a controversial 'package-deal casting' shake-up.
On July 6, the YouTube channel Zzanhan Bro Shin Dong-yup released a video featuring Hong Seok-cheon and Ji Jin-hee. Looking back on his debut days, Ji began, "As a rookie, landing the lead in a drama was incredibly tough."
He recalled that he had once been lucky enough to be cast as the lead in a long-form drama. Overjoyed, he shared the news with his family — but not long after filming began, something unexpected happened.
"We filmed up to episode two, and then I was suddenly dropped," he confessed. He explained, "The female lead changed, a new actress came in, and because an actor from the same agency as that actress was cast alongside her, I ended up being replaced." In short, his role vanished due to so-called 'agency bundle-deal' casting.
The director could only apologize, while his manager urged him to endure because anything could happen in this industry. "Back then I said I would quit. I even argued with my manager at a cafe," Ji recalled.
Forced to leave the project against his will, Ji said he struggled to process the shock. "I drank soju from midday and went all the way to a fourth round," he said, describing his emptiness at the time.
He couldn't bring himself to tell his family right away. "I couldn't say I'd been cut. So I left home every day as if I had a shoot, killed time, then came back," he admitted. That routine continued for a while, and as the broadcast date neared, he finally had to tell his mother the truth.
"My mom had been proudly telling people, 'My son is in this drama.' So I said, 'Mom, I'm not going to be on TV. I got cut,'" he shared. "She turned her back without a word, but I could tell she was crying. I still can't forget that moment." To make it worse, the drama reportedly became a major hit afterward, deepening his regret.
Meanwhile, Ji Jin-hee, who debuted in 1999, rose to massive popularity through the drama Jewel in the Palace. He has since showcased a wide acting range across various projects.