Girls’ Generation YoonA’s Age Gap With Her New Male Lead Sparks Debate
Girl’s Generation Yoona’s new male lead has netizens divided.
The idol-actress is set to appear in tvN’s highly anticipated K-Drama, The Tyrant’s Chef. Previously, actor Park Sung Hoon was selected to play the male lead in the show. But it was recently reported that he had stepped down from the project.
According to media reports, the rising actor Lee Chae Min is being considered as a replacement for Park.
Lee’s casting has drawn mixed reactions from netizens at home and abroad, with many being skeptical about the age gap between him and Yoona. The actress is a ’90-liner and Lee is a 2000-born, making them exactly ten years apart.
uhmm? i don't think yoona should partnered up with 2000 liner. thats literally her little brother 😭 https://t.co/LauFhvgG4X
— axel (@kminjeong_twt) January 13, 2025
But he’s so young, I prepare much older than YoonA pls. https://t.co/OKwLMUvSqs
— CARRIE (@CaridadLana) January 13, 2025
Bruh, there a lot of male actor with age 30+ years old and has better chemistry potential with Yoona https://t.co/PbIbOXl2UF
— ggslay (@ggslay1on1) January 13, 2025
While many expressed their doubt whether this pairing would work with such a big age difference, some countered saying it was hypocritical since older male actors are routinely cast next to younger female actresses in K-Dramas without sparking such discourse.
except she’s 34 and he’s 24… why are yall so comfortable with being ageist towards women like you’re genuinely horrible people https://t.co/E3cSokkMoj
— ًًً (@hyostan) January 13, 2025
y’all hype 30-40s men like they’re gods but treat women at the same age like they’re some kind of fossils https://t.co/wUsDzZREjO
— ☆🪼 (@vglnteshits) January 14, 2025
You would never say about this when actresses are 20 years younger than the actors https://t.co/2wwZcNCn7j
— div (@toptanincore) January 14, 2025
Meanwhile, many fans have welcomed this new casting decision, relieved that Yoona will be distanced from the recent controversy of Park Sung Hoon. You can read more about it here.
