The shocking fallout from translator Hwang Seok-hee's sex crime scandal is rippling through the film and theater worlds.
On the 15th, according to the film industry, Hwang was ultimately removed from the translation work for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which is set to open soon. He had previously earned praise for his translations on the Spider-Man series, including Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home. He even handled the trailer translation for the new film, making his participation in the feature likely, but he stepped down after the sex crime controversy.
The performing arts scene is showing a similar trend. For the musical Frozen, which is scheduled to make its Korean premiere this August, producers excluded Hwang from the ongoing translation process. The production company stated it will utilize parts of the existing translation while having its in-house team complete the remaining sections. The decision puts the brakes on Hwang's efforts to expand his activities from film into theater.
The controversy stems from allegations of past sex crimes raised late last month. According to Dispatch at the time, Hwang was indicted in 2005 and 2014 on charges including forcible molestation and quasi-rape, and he received suspended sentences. As this became known, companies across the industry began severing ties with Hwang.
Following the reports, broadcasters and the publishing industry also took action. tvN variety show You Quiz on the Block and MBC variety show Omniscient Interfering View made the episodes featuring Hwang unavailable. Major online bookstores also halted sales of his books.
On his social media, Hwang stated, "I am reviewing the facts with my attorney," adding, "We are considering corrections and responses to any parts of the coverage that differ from the facts or go beyond legal judgment." He has since set all of his posts to private.
At one point, Hwang rose to star-translator status by handling multiple blockbusters such as Deadpool and Bohemian Rhapsody. With the controversy continuing, attention is now focused on whether he will be able to resume his career.