His film faced pushbacks due to his drug controversy.

Actor Yoo Ah In recently made his comeback to acting with his latest film, The Match.

Yoo Ah In plays the second lead, a Go prodigy named Lee Chang Ho, in the movie. The story dramatizes the real-life rivalry and mentorship between Lee Chang Ho and Go legend Cho Hoon Hyun, played by Lee Byung Hun.

Yoo (left) and Lee Byung Hun (right) in “The Match”

Despite the much-anticipated storyline, The Match had to wade through unruly waters to make it to the theater. Its release had been initially clouded by Yoo’s 2023 indictment for illegal substance abuse with seven different drugs, including propofol.

The controversy effectively destroyed his public image and led to a career fallout for Yoo. The Match marks his return to the screen after he received a suspended sentence for his crime in his second trial. And it appears that the initial skepticism of audiences to give any project involving Yoo Ah In any chance has faded with time.

According to the Korean Film Council, The Match attracted over 427,000 viewers during the April 4-6 weekend, bringing the total number of viewers to more than 1.35 million. The movie has maintained its top spot at the weekend box office for the second consecutive week. The film is fast approaching its break-even point of 1.8 million viewers.

The success of The Match is signaling the possibility of a rebound for Yoo Ah In as an actor. But on the other hand, much of the movie’s success is owed to the single-handed promotional efforts of Lee Byung Hun. So, while it is not an exaggeration to state that the Korean entertainment industry might have loosened its reins, it still remains to be seen whether Yoo can bring about the same results with his following projects.