Ji Soo's River Where the Moon Rises lawsuit explained: Why his former agency must pay 880 million won compensation

Ji Soo's River Where the Moon Rises lawsuit explained: Why his former agency must pay 880 million won compensation

More than five years after actor Ji Soo's abrupt exit from the hit K-drama River Where the Moon Rises, the legal dispute over the financial fallout has finally come to an end.

South Korea's Supreme Court has effectively upheld a lower court ruling requiring Ji Soo's former agency, Keyeast, to pay approximately 880 million won (around $640,000) in damages to production company Canvas N (formerly Victory Contents). The decision became final after Keyeast withdrew its appeal before the country's highest court.

Why was the lawsuit filed?

The controversy began in March 2021, while River Where the Moon Rises was still airing.

Ji Soo, who played the lead character On Dal opposite Kim So Hyun, faced multiple allegations of school bullying that surfaced through online posts. The actor later admitted to parts of the accusations and apologised publicly before stepping away from the drama.

His departure came at a crucial stage of production, with filming for 18 of the drama's 20 episodes already completed and six episodes having aired.

Why did the production company seek compensation?

To continue the series, the production team cast Na In Woo as the new lead from episode seven onwards.

However, the producers also made the costly decision to reshoot the first six episodes featuring Ji Soo so that the drama could maintain continuity. The reshoots involved additional expenses for actors, crew, filming locations, equipment rentals and production logistics.

Canvas N initially sought nearly 3 billion won (about $2 million) in damages, arguing that Ji Soo's exit had caused substantial financial losses. Following years of litigation, the courts awarded the company around 880 million won instead.

Why does Keyeast have to pay?

The compensation is payable by Keyeast because it represented Ji Soo at the time the dispute arose.

According to Korean media reports, the agency withdrew its appeal before the Supreme Court's Third Division on June 24, making the appellate court's judgment legally binding. In addition to the compensation amount, delayed interest is also payable.

What is River Where the Moon Rises about?

Released in 2021, River Where the Moon Rises is a historical romance inspired by the Goguryeo folktale of Princess Pyeonggang and On Dal.

Kim So Hyun stars as Princess Pyeonggang, who fights to reclaim her kingdom, while On Dal begins as a peace-loving commoner before becoming deeply involved in palace politics and war. After Ji Soo's departure, Na In Woo took over the role of On Dal for the remainder of the series.

Where is Ji Soo now?

Since resolving the legal dispute, Ji Soo has attempted to rebuild his acting career.

After completing his mandatory military service, he shifted his professional focus to the Philippines, signing with Sparkle GMA Artist Center in 2024. He has since appeared in several Philippine television dramas, including Black Rider, Abot-Kamay na Pangarap, Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko, Sanggang-Dikit, Never Say Die and Love, Siargao.

The Supreme Court's ruling brings one of South Korea's most closely watched entertainment lawsuits to a close, ending a legal battle that began with Ji Soo's departure from one of 2021's biggest K-dramas.