The actor Lee Myeong-Haeng, who served a sentence for sexual harassment, has officially withdrawn from his expected theatrical return following a widespread public backlash.
Lee would have appeared in the comedy “Herry VIII”, Which should have run from 16 to 27 April at the Gongyu theater in the Daehak-Ro di Seoul district. However, the announcement has rekindled the disputes surrounding its past, in particular the case of 2018 in which a member of the theater staff accused him of sexual harassment, a statement that has gained traction through social media and media coverage at that moment.
Following the initial accusations, Lee resigned from the cast of “Kiss of the Spider Woman” And since then he has maintained a low profile. His recent casting “Herry VIII” It was seen as a return attempt, but the news triggered indignation through the theatrical community and the public in general.
While the criticism increased, Lee Myeong-Haeng released a statement through his agency, “I apologize sincerely for my past offenses. I’m really sorry for those who have had discomfort and sexual pain because of me. I also apologize to the production team of the current game for not being able to see it until the end.”
Despite the apologies, the recourse did not subside. Many critics have underlined that allowing a condemned offender to resume the work aimed at the public, in particular in an intimate sector such as theater, sends the wrong message, especially because the industry continues to confront his own story with a bad sexual conduct.
Eurasia Shakespeare Theater Company, responsible for the production of “Herry VIII”announced the removal of Lee in an official declaration, “Our company does not forgive sex crimes in the theatrical industry in any way.”
They clarified that Lee had joined the cast through a last minute hearing and that the team had not performed complete bottom checks at the time of the casting. “We were not completely unaware of his past until not having received external relationships. After the verification, we informed him of his immediate removal. We apologize deeply for not being able to not be able to reveal the participants, which caused further pain to victims and supporters.”
Lee Myeong-Haeng’s failed attempt to return to the stage highlights worries on the responsibility in the arts. The rapid and decisive response of the production team reflects an increasing position of zero tolerance within the sector and an unwilling audience to forgive and forget without authentic expiation and responsibility.
