A photobook of Hyun Bin has been set to be published in Japan without permission. Hyun Bin's agency stated that they would take legal actions.
On August 18, photos during Hyun Bin's time in the Marine Corps are set to be republished this September 7, according to a Japanese media outlet. The inspiration for the republication is by Hyun Bin's drama series "Crash Landing On You," where Hyun Bin played the role of North Korean soldier.
The published book has been produced in South Korea as an electronic book last 2012 and was available in Japan in 2014 after a contract with a Japanese publisher. The agency of Hyun Bin was out of this contract because the photos in the book are from the Marines, which they do not own rights on pictures of themselves.
Continuing, on August 18, Hyun Bin's agency, VAST Entertainment, has taken legal actions against a Korean publishing company. Like what happened in 2014, they did not hear about a republication company in Japan. They only knew when they saw it available for pre-order in Amazon. They contacted the current publisher and was told that "they also thought that the Korean agency had given permission."
There were no actions taken in 2014 because it was under the Marine Corps' affair. But for the past ten years, the photos used for public use was continued to be used without consent. Private companies have taken advantage of the situation, prompting the agency to decide to take legal action.
A source from the Marine Corps stated that they knew about Japan's republication in a news article where the publishing company did not ask permission from them. Regarding the plans for an agreement, the Marine Corps wants to investigate more about this issue.
Hyun Bin is currently filming another movie, "Bargaining," a film about the 2007 South Korean hostage crisis in Afghanistan.
