The recently released film "Omniscient Reader: The Prophet," adapted from the popular web novel of the same name, has garnered significant attention, not only for its star-studded cast, including Lee Min Ho and Ahn Hyo Seop, but also for the inclusion of BLACKPINK's Jisoo. This has led to speculation about whether Lee Min Ho is leveraging Jisoo's fame to promote the film.
"Omniscient Reader: The Prophet" is a fantasy action film that depicts a world where the events of a web novel become reality. Kim Dok-ja, played by Ahn Hyo Seop, is the sole reader of this novel and must navigate this new reality to survive. He joins forces with Yoo Joong-hyuk, portrayed by Lee Min Ho, the main character within the web novel, to fight for the future. Jisoo plays Lee Ji-hye, a resilient warrior who stands by Yoo Joong-hyuk in battle.
The film has enjoyed box office success, drawing 427,362 viewers in its opening weekend and maintaining the number one spot for five consecutive days after its release on July 23, 2025. The grand-scale visual effects and the performances of Ahn Hyo Seop and Lee Min Ho have been praised. However, the film has also received criticism for its storytelling, with some viewers finding it difficult to connect with the characters.
Lee Min Ho himself has expressed surprise regarding his character's connection with Jisoo's character in the film. He admitted that he "had no idea how we were even connected". During a press conference in Singapore, comments made by Lee Min Ho and Ahn Hyo Seop about Jisoo sparked mixed reactions online. When asked which character they’d choose as an ally, both actors picked Lee Ji-hye (Jisoo). Lee Min Ho stated that he would choose Jisoo, saying, “No need for weapons, just listening to her sing gives strength”. Some fans defended the actors, while others criticized them for using Jisoo's name for publicity.
While the casting of Jisoo has generated buzz and excitement among fans, it's important to note that the film is based on a popular web novel with a strong existing fan base. The success of the film can be attributed to several factors, including the popularity of the original web novel, the star-studded cast, and the impressive visual effects. It is difficult to definitively state that Lee Min Ho is intentionally using Jisoo's fame to promote the film. Jisoo is a member of BLACKPINK, and is a highly recognizable celebrity with a large fan base. Her inclusion in the cast naturally draws attention to the project.
