Casting controversy surrounding musical actress Ok Joo-hyun has resurfaced. Concerns are spreading among musical fans that a situation similar to the so-called 'Okjangpan' suspicion from four years ago is being repeated. The controversy was triggered recently with the announcement of the casting and first performance schedule of the musical "Anna Karenina."

The lead role of 'Anna' was triple-cast with Ok Joo-hyun, Lee Ji-hye, and Kim So-hyang. However, there is a significant difference in the number of appearances. Out of a total of 38 performances, Ok Joo-hyun is scheduled to appear 23 to 25 times, while Lee Ji-hye appears 8 times and Kim So-hyang only 7 times. Even combined, the two actresses' appearances do not match Ok Joo-hyun's solo appearances. In particular, 5 out of Kim So-hyang's 7 performances are assigned to weekday matinees, raising concerns about fairness.

Some fans have reacted by saying, "This is not triple casting but effectively a one-cast," interpreting it as favoritism toward Ok Joo-hyun. There are opinions that considering the musical's top ticket price of 170,000 won and its box office potential, it is understandable to lean toward Ok Joo-hyun. However, the industry regards such an extreme imbalance in appearance distribution as unusual.

Amid the spreading controversy, Kim So-hyang's SNS post has become a topic of interest. On the 27th, she posted on her personal Instagram, "Night night night. Lots to say but better not (I have a lot to say but let's not)." Fans interpret this as a veiled expression of her feelings about the current situation.

This is not the first casting controversy involving Ok Joo-hyun. In 2022, musical actor Kim Ho-young posted on SNS, "Asaripan is a thing of the past. Now it's Okjangpan," along with a meaningful image. At the time, this coincided with the 10th-anniversary casting of the musical "Elisabeth," causing a major stir. Ok Joo-hyun took a strong stance by threatening legal action, and the production company EMK Company officially explained, "Due to the nature of licensed musicals, casting is impossible without the original creator's final approval, including leads, supporting roles, and ensemble." Later, Ok Joo-hyun withdrew the lawsuit against Kim Ho-young but expressed her grievances through a broadcast, revealing that the incident left a deep scar on her.

This controversy raises questions beyond Ok Joo-hyun herself, about the overall structure of musical casting. Despite the appearance of triple casting, the imbalance on stage is gaining credibility as a valid criticism. This situation may bring the long-standing issues of the musical industry back to the surface, drawing close attention to its outcome.