Rumor Mill vs. Reality: Jun Ji-hyun’s Agency Responds
K-drama queen Jun Ji-hyun found herself in the eye of a media storm this week. Reports out of China claimed her advertisements—especially for cosmetics and luxury watches—were pulled following backlash over a controversial line in her new Disney+ drama, Polaris.
But according to her agency, that’s all fiction. Speaking to OSEN on the morning of the 23rd, a representative clarified: “The rumors that Jun Ji-hyun’s Chinese ads were canceled are completely baseless.”
The Controversy: Where It All Started
The drama in question is Disney+ original Polaris, a high-stakes spy romance featuring Jun Ji-hyun as Seo Mun-ju, a United Nations ambassador diving into political conspiracies. In one pivotal episode, her character says: “Why does China love war so much? A nuclear bomb could drop near the border.”
That line triggered outrage among Chinese viewers, with netizens calling for a boycott. Some speculated that this led to her commercial endorsements in China being shut down.
Setting the Record Straight
Jun Ji-hyun’s team isn’t denying everything—just the claims of cancellation. They acknowledged that an ad shoot was postponed, but emphasized it was decided before Polaris even aired. “We confirmed with our Chinese ad agency that the delay was due to local circumstances—not controversy,” the spokesperson added.
Inside ‘Polaris’: A Spy Drama With Global Stakes
Starring Jun Ji-hyun and Kang Dong-won, Polaris follows Seo Mun-ju and a mysterious agent named Sang-ho as they unravel a presidential assassination plot. The show blends espionage, romance, and political drama—and has clearly hit more than a few nerves overseas.
Despite—or perhaps because of—the controversy, Polaris is gaining buzz globally, proving once again that K-dramas don’t shy away from bold storytelling.
What’s Next for Jun Ji-hyun?
If history’s any guide, Jun Ji-hyun will weather this media storm like the Hallyu icon she is. While the internet speculates, she’s still booked, busy, and starring in one of Disney+’s most-watched Korean originals.
Controversy? Maybe. Career crisis? Definitely not.
