Disney's live-action adaptation of "The Little Mermaid" has stirred up controversy in Korea due to the choice of promotional material featuring NewJeans' Danielle, the voice actress for Ariel in the Korean dubbed version, instead of Halle Bailey, the lead actress.

As the film's target audience comprises primarily children, concerns have been raised that the promotional campaign could lead to confusion among young viewers, who might mistake Danielle for the "real" Ariel.

Upon the announcement of NewJeans Danielle as the voice actress for Ariel, Disney Korea embarked on an extensive promotional campaign, featuring Danielle prominently on posters, billboards, and major television channels such as SBS.

This decision sparked a wave of criticism from Korean audiences, who were expecting to see Halle Bailey, the lead actress, in the promotional material.

Korean netizens took to various online platforms to voice their discontent with the promotional strategy.

Here are some of the comments that captured the prevailing sentiment:

"Why are they showing the face of the voice actress instead of the main actress? Is this an animated film instead of a live-action?"

"The trailer is no different. There isn't a single direct shot of Halle Bailey."

"This way, children will mistake Danielle for the lead actress and go to the theaters expecting to see her."

"They hyped up the 'black little mermaid' but didn't show her face in the trailer. What's up with that?"

Despite the controversy surrounding the promotional campaign, "The Little Mermaid" live-action film premiered in Korea on May 24th as scheduled.

It remains to be seen how the public reception will unfold and whether the concerns raised by netizens will impact the film's success in the Korean market.

What are your thoughts?

Source[1]

Jo Jung Suk is officially back—and fans of Hospital Playlist couldn’t be more excited.

In the preview for episode 10 of Resident Playbook, aired by tvN on May 10, Jo Jung Suk’s character Lee Ik Jun is shown walking through a dimly lit hospital, saying, “It’s been so long since I came here.”

The short scene sparked immediate buzz online, especially when he’s seen holding hands with a woman—whose face is hidden. Many viewers are now asking: Is it Chae Song Hwa?

Although her identity isn’t revealed, fans are hopeful that the woman is Jeon Mi Do, who played Chae Song Hwa in Hospital Playlist.

Earlier announcements confirmed that both Jo Jung Suk and Jeon Mi Do would make appearances in Resident Playbook, fueling speculation that the beloved duo is finally reuniting on screen.

The teaser quickly became a hot topic, helping the drama maintain its upward momentum. Resident Playbook—a spin-off of the hit series Hospital Playlist—has been gaining strong viewership, with its latest episode setting new personal ratings records.

The show has consistently ranked No. 1 in its time slot across all channels, showing that fans are deeply invested in the lives and growth of the young doctors at the center of the story.

As the series continues to mix heartwarming guest appearances with its own emotional stories, viewers are now eagerly waiting for episode 10, airing May 11 at 9:20 PM KST, to see what’s next.

Will the “99s” finally reunite? Tune in to find out!

Source: [1]