On October 29, a South Korean actress born in 1985 faced accusations of school bullying from an anonymous netizen. The shocking allegations, which claimed the actress was a notorious bully who severely assaulted a classmate, even rupturing their eardrum, quickly sparked heated debate across Korean online communities. As more clues from the post emerged, speculation mounted that the actress in question was Cha Ye-ryun (차예련). Her agency swiftly issued a denial, stating that the accusations were "completely false."
An article titled "School Bullying Perpetrator, an Actress Born in 1985, Please Stop Your Activities" appeared on a Korean online forum on the 29th. The anonymous poster, identified as 'A,' claimed that actress 'C,' a graduate of Junggye Middle School (중계중학교), was a well-known bully during her school days, with her reputation for misconduct even reaching students from nearby schools.
A stated that seeing actress 'C' smiling on television or YouTube, enjoying public affection for her positive image as a good wife, mother, and skilled cook, caused immense pain. A further alleged that during their school years, 'C' repeatedly bullied them in various locations, including the back of the classroom, restrooms, playgrounds, and corridors of buildings near the school. A claimed that 'C' would verbally abuse them every time they met, and even deliberately kick their chair when they were seated, causing A to live in constant fear.
Even more shockingly, A provided a detailed account of a past assault. A claimed that actress 'C' typically carried out the attacks in buildings near the school. If 'C' asked A to stay after class, 'C' and her friends would take A to one of these buildings after school and assault them in the corridor. A tearfully recalled, "She was particularly cruel, always focusing her punches on my cheeks. Eventually, she even ruptured my eardrum, and my cheek swelled up severely." Every word conveyed the profound pain of the violence suffered years ago.
A also admitted that despite decades having passed, they are still unable to escape the psychological trauma of the past. A currently receives psychiatric treatment and takes medication, suffering from chronic symptoms of depression and anxiety. A expressed frustration, stating, "The victim is still living with trauma, while the perpetrator is loved by the public and living a normal life as if nothing happened. Just thinking about it causes me immense pain."
A directly called upon actress 'C' to cease all television and YouTube activities, genuinely reflect on her past actions, and formally apologize to the victims. A also firmly stated that if 'C' denies the accusations or responds with excuses like "I don't remember" or "It's completely false," A will disclose testimonies from other classmates and additional evidence, hinting at potential further revelations.
Additionally, A shared a photo of the cover of a Junggye Middle School graduation yearbook, dated "February 2001." The clues mentioned in the post, including the birth year, school attended, and initial of the name, led many netizens to speculate that actress 'C' was Cha Ye-ryun. In response, Cha Ye-ryun's agency, HB Entertainment, briefly told Korean media outlet CBS No Cut News on the 30th that the accusations were "completely false," explicitly denying the school bullying allegations. The veracity of the claims remains to be further clarified.
In fact, Cha Ye-ryun and actor Joo Sang-wook (주상욱) have been married for many years and are known for their loving relationship. Recently, the couple revealed their daughter, Ina (인아), for the first time through their YouTube channel. Unexpectedly, their daughter showed exceptional camera presence during her first family photoshoot, displaying no shyness and instantly turning Joo Sang-wook into a doting father. He even began seriously considering a modeling career for her.
Joo Sang-wook confidently stated at the time, "Shouldn't I let her be a model? I guarantee that after these photos are released, agencies will be calling within a few days." Hearing his wife's words, Cha Ye-ryun couldn't help but shake her head, playfully teasing him as a "hopeless daughter-fool," pointing out that Joo Sang-wook was completely smitten by their daughter.
Meanwhile, Joo Sang-wook has recently gained attention for his role as the villain "Joo Kang-chan" in the K-drama The Golden Agent. His ruthless demeanor and intense presence in the series successfully captured significant attention.
