KOR
Actor Yoo Ah-in has parted ways with UAA, the agency he had been with for 12 years.
According to industry sources, the contractual relationship between Yoo and UAA had ended long before the news was reported.
Yoo signed an exclusive contract with UAA in 2014 and maintained a partnership for over a decade. During this period, he reached the peak of his career, starring in films such as Veteran, The Throne, Burning, Voice of Silence, and The Match.
Recently, UAA has seen both Song Hyekyo and Yoo Ah-in depart as their respective exclusive contracts expired, leading them to pursue separate paths.
Speculation regarding Yoo's next agency has also emerged. Rumors are circulating that he has been in contact with Galaxy Corporation, which represents artists including G-DRAGON, Kim Jong-kook, and actor Song Kang-ho. It is reported that both sides have held discussions regarding an exclusive contract.
Yoo halted all activities in early 2023 following the discovery of his drug use case. He faced charges of using medical propofol and other substances 181 times between September 2020 and March 2022, illegally obtaining prescriptions for and purchasing approximately 1,100 sleeping pills under others’ names on 44 occasions between May 2021 and August 2022, and smoking marijuana in the United States with an individual identified as Choi and others on three occasions in January 2023, as well as encouraging others to smoke. In July of last year, the Supreme Court finalized a sentence of one year in prison, suspended for two years, along with a fine of 2 million KRW.
While it was initially predicted that a return to the entertainment industry would take time, rumors surfaced regarding his potential appearance in Vampir, a new project by director Jang Jae-hyun, who achieved success with the 10-million-viewer film Exhuma late last year. Director Jang stated, "It is true that I am preparing a new project called Vampir," but drew a line by adding, "It is completely untrue that Yoo Ah-in will be appearing in it."
However, industry insiders believe the possibility of Yoo appearing in Vampir is not low. With the added possibility of Yoo joining a new agency, it appears that his return to the entertainment industry may not be far off.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)