Actor Jang Dong-yun, 34, and Kim Seung-yun, 28, announced their upcoming marriage Tuesday, touching off a controversy over the crowdfunding campaign behind their film "Nuruk."
Jang said Tuesday that he plans to marry "someone who has been by my side for a long time" this October, confirming Kim as his bride-to-be.
The two have worked together on films directed by Jang, including "Be My Ears" and "Nuruk," with Jang as director and Kim as lead actor.
Following the marriage announcement, fans began raising questions about the crowdfunding process behind "Nuruk."
The film opened in April and ran a crowdfunding campaign over roughly one month between November and December last year, raising 26.35 million won ($19,100) under the banner of promotional expenses. Backers received perks including one invitation to a post-screening audience talk and the chance to attend an autograph session with Jang.
Some fans have accused Jang of deception, saying he did not disclose that he and Kim were in a relationship at the time of the campaign. Their relationship was not publicly known during the fundraising period. "Is it right to ask fans to invest in a film where your girlfriend is the lead?" one user wrote online. Others commented that fans had effectively "funded their dates" and that Jang "should have explained the situation before seeking investment."
It is not known exactly when Jang and Kim began dating, but given his reference to a long-shared history, many assume the two were already a couple when the crowdfunding campaign was held.
Others have pushed back, arguing that filmmaking and personal relationships are separate matters, and that there is nothing wrong with the funds as long as they were used for their stated purpose.
paq@heraldcorp.com
