South Korean actress Cha Ye-ryun (차예련) recently became embroiled in a school bullying controversy. Despite her agency's immediate denial of the allegations, stating the claims were "completely untrue," the uproar has not subsided. Netizens claiming to be her former classmates have come forward, and the controversy has even extended to her family, with demands for her husband, Joo Sang-wook (주상욱), to address the issue. A large number of netizens have flooded his Instagram comments, urging him to comment on his wife's controversy, with some sarcastically asking, "Isn't this a fraudulent marriage?" His once-positive image, previously seen as filial and upright, is now facing scrutiny.
As the incident continues to escalate, former announcer and current host Lee Hye-sung (이혜성) has publicly shared her own experience with school bullying, admitting she endured immense pain because of it. She also used a book passage to address bullying victims, telling them, "You are a very valuable person, and there's no need to remain in an environment that isn't right for you."
On October 30, Lee Hye-sung uploaded a new video titled "It's Impossible to Be Liked by Everyone | The Courage to Be Disliked" to her personal YouTube channel, "Lee Hye-sung's 1% Book Club." In the video, she shared her reflections on reading the bestseller The Courage to Be Disliked and discussed the book's perspective on "community."
Lee Hye-sung stated, "Sometimes, groups can also be a source of harm. When a certain group makes us suffer or feel bullied, the most important thing is to understand that this group is not the only place we can belong." She gave an example: if one believes school is the only place they can belong, then the pain of experiencing school bullying, being ostracized by classmates, or even failing to make friends becomes unbearable. She admitted, "I have experienced these things myself."
She continued, explaining that beyond school, there are other diverse groups and worlds in life. Simply understanding that a broader world awaits in the future can provide great strength. When one realizes that the outside world is far more expansive than imagined, they might discover that the suffering endured in school was merely a brief experience in life.
Lee Hye-sung also revealed that when she read this passage in the book, she particularly hoped that anyone who had suffered deep wounds from group bullying or school violence would read it carefully. She quoted a passage from the book: "Beyond school, there is a wider world, and each of us is a part of that world. If you cannot find your place in school, look for it outside of school. Transferring or dropping out is fine. When you know there is a bigger world outside, you will understand that the pain you felt in school was merely a storm in a teacup. Once you step out of the teacup, even a fierce storm will turn into a gentle breeze."
She further shared her thoughts, believing that if one feels extreme pain in a certain group, it is not their fault, and therefore, it is perfectly acceptable to choose to sever ties with that group. "If I am bullied at a company, it doesn't mean I have to stay there; I can go elsewhere. I am not so insignificant that I deserve to endure such suffering. I have my own value, and I will surely find a more suitable group in the future. How wonderful it would be if one could hold such a mindset."
Lee Hye-sung also expressed regret that she did not have such an understanding during her middle school years. No adults around her taught her these principles, nor did she have the opportunity to read similar books, so she had to endure the pain alone at the time. She admitted that back then, she never imagined there were other places where she could be happier besides her original environment.
She also stated that if she ever encounters someone with similar experiences in the future, she will personally tell them: "You are a very valuable person, and there is no need to remain in such a meaningless group. You deserve to find happiness in a place that is more suitable for you. Please, do not make choices that harm yourself." Every word conveyed her heartache and sympathy for bullying victims.
Separately, Lee Hye-sung recently became unintentionally embroiled in a public controversy after sharing her reading insights. While commenting on American scholar Michael Sandel's book Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?, she mentioned actor Ha Young (하영), who had temporarily halted her entertainment activities due to a recent controversy involving her great-grandfather. Unexpectedly, the questions raised in the book were interpreted by some media outlets as Lee Hye-sung's personal stance, even twisted into a defense of Ha Young, leading to attacks from some netizens.
In response, Lee Hye-sung clarified the misunderstanding through her personal social media platforms and YouTube comment section, emphasizing that what she truly intended to convey in the video was that one cannot ignore the mistakes made by ancestors. She stated, "All of us cannot escape historical responsibility and must live with this responsibility."
Lee Hye-sung graduated from Seoul National University and entered the television industry in 2016 through KBS's 43rd open recruitment for announcers. In May 2020, she resigned from her announcer position to become a freelance host, remaining active on various programs and online platforms.
