Conflicting testimonies emerge over school violence allegations against Cha Ye-ryun
A former classmate has alleged that actress Cha Ye-ryun was a perpetrator of school violence, while another individual claiming to remember the same period has provided a conflicting account.
Conflicting accounts have surfaced regarding school violence allegations against actress Cha Ye-ryun, as a netizen claiming to remember her time at Junggye Middle School in Seoul stated they do not recall her bullying or stealing from others. While an initial whistleblower alleged repeated physical assaults, the actress's agency has denied the claims as groundless.
The school violence allegations surrounding actress Cha Ye-ryun have entered a new phase. Following specific details of alleged victimization released by an individual claiming to be a former classmate, a truth dispute is expanding as another netizen, who claims to remember school life at the time, has offered a conflicting testimony.
On the 29th, a post titled "Please stop acting, school violence perpetrator actress born in '85" was uploaded to an online community. The author, identified as a graduate of Junggye Middle School in Seoul, claimed that actress C was a perpetrator of school violence and a member of a school gang. The author added that seeing her current bright and family-oriented image on broadcasts and YouTube causes painful memories.
The claims made by the author were quite specific. They alleged being repeatedly assaulted by actress C in classrooms, bathrooms, and buildings near the school, resulting in injuries such as a ruptured eardrum and severely swollen cheeks. The post also stated that items like gym clothes and textbooks were repeatedly borrowed and not returned, and that demands for their return were met with shouting and profanity.
The author demanded that actress C cease her broadcasting activities and offer a sincere apology and reflection. They also stated that if the allegations are denied or if she claims not to remember, additional materials, including testimonies from other alumni, will be released. However, the contents of this exposure are the claims of the author and must be distinguished from objectively verified facts.
Upon the emergence of the allegations, Cha Ye-ryun's side immediately stated that the claims were groundless. Her agency has fully denied the allegations of school violence and is responding strongly. Subsequently, claims were made online that Cha Ye-ryun is deleting related comments on YouTube and other platforms, though this has not been independently verified.
On the 31st, as the controversy continued, a new variable emerged when another netizen left a comment on the exposure post. This netizen, who also claims to remember the situation at the time, recalled that while Cha Ye-ryun was pretty and did have a poor reputation among those around her—with not a few students disliking her—they do not remember her as a student who went around hitting or bullying others.
The netizen further added that since she was not from an economically disadvantaged background, she never stole items from other students or extorted money. This presents a memory that differs from the patterns of assault and bullying described by the initial whistleblower. However, as this comment also constitutes an individual's memory and statement, it is difficult to conclude it as definitive evidence supporting one side's claim.
With the succession of differing testimonies, the school violence allegations against Cha Ye-ryun are spreading beyond simple exposure and denial into a question of the credibility of statements regarding school life at the time. Whether the whistleblower releases additional evidence, the agency's response, and subsequent testimonies from alumni have emerged as major variables that will determine the flow of the controversy.
Cha Ye-ryun debuted in 2005 with the film Voice and has since appeared in films such as A Bloody Aria, Muoi: The Legend of a Portrait, Sector 7, My Black Mini Dress, and The Plan Man, as well as dramas including Royal Family, Glamorous Temptation, Perfume, Gracious Revenge, Gold Mask, and Battle for Happiness. She married actor Joo Sang-wook in 2017, had a daughter the following year, and recently drew attention by revealing her daughter's face for the first time through a pictorial.
Lee Chang-seok is the CEO and editor of Mediafine and writes for Mediafine Global, mainly covering K-Variety and also writing on K-pop, Celebrity and K-drama.
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