Seo Yea-ji to star in new tvN series 'Eve' following last year's controversy

Actor Seo Yea-ji in the upcoming drama series ″Eve″ [TVN]

New tvN drama series “Eve” is set to feature controversial star Seo Yea-ji as the protagonist, though viewers no longer seem bothered.

The cable channel released the second preview of the series on Wednesday and viewers' anticipation is heightening, with some even commenting on social media channels that the casting of Seo was “such a great choice.”

Seo has been off the grid in the entertainment industry since last April after she was belatedly embroiled in claims that she was abusive in her previous relationship with actor Kim Jung-hyun in 2018. Seo was alleged to have told Kim he was allowed to engage in zero contact with other female cast members on set and, later, forced him to quit a drama series he was involved in at the time. After claims of her controlling and manipulative behavior gained online traction, Seo admitted to having had a romantic relationship with Kim but denied that Kim pulled himself out from the drama because he was told to do so by her.

Seo will portray Lee Ra-el, who seduces the CEO of a powerful conglomerate, Kang Yoon-kyum (played by Park Byung-eun), causing him to go through a divorce lawsuit costing 2 trillion won ($1.7 billion) — all part of a revenge plan she had put together for the past 13 years to get payback for her father’s death.

Actor Yoo Sun portrays Yoon-kyum’s wife Han So-ra, the daughter of a powerful politician who is obsessed with her husband. Lee Sang-yeop portrays Seo Eun-pyeong, the youngest member of the National Assembly receiving spotlight by the media. He is depicted as having a scarred past and willing to do anything for love.

Seo, 32, debuted in 2013 in the sitcom “Potato Star 1013QR3 (2013-14). She rose to stardom with the recent hit “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay” (2020).

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]