South Korean actress Cha Ye-ryun (차예련) has recently been embroiled in a school bullying controversy. Despite denials from both the actress and her agency, the dispute continues to escalate. The situation took a new turn when a netizen, claiming to be her middle school classmate, publicly accused Cha Ye-ryun of being a perpetrator of school violence, even alleging she was beaten to the point of a ruptured eardrum. However, as the allegations sparked widespread discussion, another netizen, also claiming to be a former classmate, came forward with a completely different account, reigniting debate over the entire incident.
On October 29, a netizen posted on an online forum with the title, "I hope the actress born in 1985 who was a bullying perpetrator will please stop her activities." The post specifically named "Actress C," who graduated from Junggye Middle School, claiming she was a past perpetrator of school bullying and part of a group of "delinquents" at the school.
The accuser, identified as "A," stated she feels pain whenever she sees the actress smiling on TV or YouTube, portraying an image of a good wife, good mother, skilled cook, and healthy, positive individual. She further alleged that during her student days, she was repeatedly beaten by "Actress C" in classrooms, restrooms, and buildings near the school, to the extent that her eardrum ruptured and her cheeks became severely swollen.
In addition, A also revealed that the actress frequently borrowed her gym clothes or textbooks but never returned them, often leaving her in difficult situations. Whenever she asked for her belongings back, the actress would not only yell loudly but also frequently hurl insults.
A firmly stated her desire for the actress to withdraw from all programs, genuinely reflect, and issue a formal apology. She emphasized that if the actress continues to deny or claim not to remember, she would provide further evidence, including testimonies from other classmates.
In response, Cha Ye-ryun's agency immediately denied the allegations, emphasizing that the claims were "completely untrue" and refuting the school bullying accusations. However, discussions online continue, with some even questioning whether she has deleted comments on YouTube and other platforms inquiring about the bullying controversy, leaving the storm yet to subside.
Amidst the ongoing debate, on October 31, another netizen commented on the original post, offering a different perspective. This netizen stated they remembered Cha Ye-ryun being pretty at the time and having a somewhat less-than-stellar reputation, with many classmates disliking her. However, based on their recollection, she was not the type to physically assault others or bully people indiscriminately.
The netizen further pointed out that Cha Ye-ryun's family's economic situation was not poor at the time, so there was no instance of her stealing others' belongings or extorting money, which contradicts the original allegations. With these differing accounts emerging, whether Cha Ye-ryun was involved in school bullying has become a focal point of public attention.
Cha Ye-ryun debuted in 2005 through the film *Voice* (여고괴담 4: 목소리). She subsequently appeared in films such as *A Bloody Aria* (구타유발자들), *Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Si Do* (도레미파솔라시도), *My Black Mini Dress* (마이 블랙 미니드레스), and *Plan Man* (플랜맨). In television, she has starred in numerous K-dramas including *Teacher Oh Soon-nam* (선생님 오순남), *Bad Love* (못된 사랑), *Invincible Lee Pyung Kang* (천하무적 이평강), *Dr. Champ* (닥터 챔프), *Golden Rainbow* (황금 무지개), *Glamorous Temptation* (화려한 유혹), *Gracious Revenge* (우아한 모녀), *The Golden Mask* (황금가면), and *Battle for Happiness* (행복배틀). She is also active on variety shows and YouTube channels.
Regarding her personal life, Cha Ye-ryun married actor Joo Sang-wook (주상욱) in 2017, and they welcomed their daughter, Ina, the following year. Recently, she garnered attention by revealing her daughter's face for the first time in a photoshoot. Now, with the emergence of this school bullying controversy, whether the related fallout will further escalate remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, Joo Sang-wook has recently gained attention for his role as the villain "Joo Kang-chan" in the K-drama *The Secret Agent: Return to Original* (금특무: 본색회귀). His ruthless demeanor and intense presence in the drama successfully captured significant attention.
