 |
| Actor Jung Woo-sung will star in the SBS TV series "Delayed Justice" to replace Bae Sung-woo. Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment |
By Lee Gyu-lee
Actor Jung Woo-sung will replace Bae Sung-woo in the lead role of the SBS TV series "Delayed Justice" after it axed Bae following a drunk driving charge.
 |
| Actor Bae Sung-woo. / Courtesy of Artist Company |
Prior to Jung's acceptance of the part, actor Lee Jung-jae was reported to be "in final talks" to take Bae's role as crusading lawyer Park Sam-soo.
As the co-founders of Bae's agency Artist Company, Jung and Lee have been keen on managing Bae's situation.
"Lee Jung-jae was in process of readjusting his schedule to allow him to join 'Delayed Justice,'" the agency said in a statement Monday, adding that it was ultimately unfeasible.
"Jung wished to take on the responsibility, after learning the news," it said. "He decided to step in, as he hopes for the series to wrap up production successfully."
With the new lead cast member, the network will resume airing the series from the beginning of January 2021.
The network will edit out most of Bae's scenes from the episodes that have already been filmed. And Jung will appear as the character from episode 17 through to the end, it said.
The series, which has aired 12 of its 20-episodes, halted production after the former lead Bae was reported to have been caught drunk driving last month. His blood-alcohol level at the time was high enough to have his license revoked, police said.
When the news of his charge came out on Dec. 11, the network made the decision the next day to dismiss him from the show, saying it "concluded that the actor's removal was unavoidable."
