Just days ahead of its highly anticipated premiere, Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy has become the subject of intense online backlash after a leaked scene from the film began circulating widely on social media. The clip, featuring a pivotal confrontation between lead characters Yoo Joong Hyuk (Lee Min Ho) and Kim Dok Ja (Ahn Hyo Seop), was intended to highlight the story’s emotional and narrative tension. However, viewers were quick to criticize what they perceived as underwhelming visual effects and poor cinematic execution, casting doubt on the film’s overall quality.
Many fans of the original web novel and webtoon voiced their frustration with the scene’s computer-generated imagery, calling it unrefined and poorly integrated despite the film’s sizable production budget. Others took issue with the camera work and overall shot composition, describing it as unimaginative and emotionally flat. The scene’s atmosphere, meant to feel intense and charged, was instead likened by several viewers to a “low-budget commercial,” leading to widespread disappointment on fan forums and social platforms.
Ahn Hyo Seop’s portrayal of Kim Dok Ja has also come under scrutiny. In the original source material, Dok Ja is celebrated for his wit, calm demeanor, and quiet strategic brilliance. But in the leaked clip, many fans noted that the character appeared timid and unsure, a stark contrast to his literary counterpart. Critics argued that this interpretation watered down one of the most compelling aspects of the narrative—Dok Ja’s psychological complexity and internal strength.
Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy is based on the hit web novel of the same name, which has gained massive popularity for its unique meta-fictional premise. The story follows Kim Dok Ja, a regular office worker who suddenly wakes up inside the novel he had been reading. Armed with his knowledge of the plot and its hero Yoo Joong Hyuk, Dok Ja must work to change the course of a world on the brink of destruction. With Lee Min Ho playing the powerful and stoic Joong Hyuk and Ahn Hyo Seop stepping into the lead role of Dok Ja, the film promised a compelling dynamic between two contrasting protagonists.
Set to premiere in theaters on July 23, the film now faces the challenge of overcoming early skepticism. Whether the full-length feature can redeem itself with stronger performances and more polished visuals—or whether this leaked scene is indicative of broader shortcomings—remains a crucial question as opening day approaches.
