From Duo to Solo: Lee Byung-hun Leads The Match as Yoo Ah-in’s Scenes Are Cut (Deleted Footage)

Actor Yoo Ah-in, who was recently released after serving five months in detention for habitual drug use, has been completely excluded from promotional activities for his upcoming film, The Match.

On February 19, distributor By4M Studio confirmed that Yoo Ah-in will not participate in any press conferences, interviews, or promotional events leading up to the film’s March 26 release.

A Two-Top Film Turned Solo Spotlight

Originally promoted as a dual-lead project featuring Lee Byung-hun and Yoo Ah-in, The Match centers on the legendary Go rivalry between Cho Hun-hyun (Lee Byung-hun) and his protégé Lee Chang-ho (Yoo Ah-in). The film was initially set for release on Netflix in 2023, but was indefinitely delayed due to Yoo Ah-in’s drug investigation.

Now, with the film’s theatrical release finally set, marketing efforts have been strategically reshaped to focus entirely on Lee Byung-hun.

The official trailer, released this week, prominently features Lee Byung-hun, Jo Woo-jin, and Go Chang-seok, while Yoo Ah-in appears only in brief, edited shots—his face mostly unseen.

Even the official poster omits Yoo Ah-in entirely, leaving Lee Byung-hun as the film’s singular face.

Actor Kim Kang-hoon, who plays young Lee Chang-ho, has a more significant presence in promotional materials than Yoo Ah-in.

Yoo Ah-in’s Legal Troubles & Release

Yoo Ah-in was sentenced to one year in prison, but his sentence was suspended for two years on February 18, allowing his release. Given the ongoing controversy surrounding his drug scandal, his exclusion from The Match’s promotions was widely expected.

While Yoo Ah-in’s involvement remains a PR challenge, The Match is still expected to attract audiences, largely due to Lee Byung-hun’s performance and the film’s gripping real-life inspiration.

Meanwhile, distributor By4M Studio is rapidly emerging as a rising force in the Korean film industry. The company successfully distributed last December’s sleeper hit Firefighter (the only Korean film to break even that month) and the Lunar New Year box office success Hitman 2. Despite the uncertainty surrounding The Match, By4M has committed to releasing a total of seven Korean films in 2024.

Originally established in 2017 as an advertising and music marketing agency, By4M expanded into film investments in 2022, backing projects such as Broker, Decision to Leave, Hansan: Rising Dragon, Alienoid, and The Roundup 3 & 4. The company has since evolved into a major player in film distribution, taking full control as the lead investor and distributor for Firefighter and now The Match.

With its March 26 theatrical release approaching, all eyes are on whether The Match can distance itself from controversy and succeed solely on its cinematic merit.