S. Korean actress dropped from Chinese TV series in possible THAAD fallout

SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) — South Korean actress Yoo In-na has been abruptly kicked off a Chinese soap series whose filming was almost finished in what may be Beijing’s retaliatory measure against Seoul for its decision to deploy an anti-missile defense system on the Korean Peninsula, a local media company said Wednesday.

“We understand China’s Hunan TV decided to cancel Yoo’s appearance in its drama after consultation with her,” CJ E&M, a media and entertainment unit of the South Korean conglomerate CJ said.

Yoo was cast as the lead actress for “Shuttle Love Millennium 2,” a 28-episode drama series produced by the Hunan satellite TV. But the TV station abruptly informed her of its decision to replace the show’s heroine without giving a specific reason, according industry sources.

Yoo’s talent agency, YG Entertainment, refrained from releasing an official statement on the incident, saying “We’re now trying to confirm this.”

The series is the Chinese remake of the South Korean cable TV channel tvN’s 2012 period drama series “Queen In-hyun’s Man.” The new show’s broadcasting schedule has yet to be set.

The recent development comes amid concerns that South Korea’s entertainment business might be the initial target of any Chinese backlash against the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. China is a key overseas market for popular South Korean entertainment content such as K-pop and dramas.

China has condemned the THAAD deployment as a move against its own national security interests and a threat to regional stability.

South Korean actress Yoo In-na