Netizens target Cha Ye-ryun's family amid school violence allegations

Actress Cha Ye-ryun's agency has denied allegations of school bullying and assault, but former classmates have since emerged online to claim she was part of a group of bullies. The controversy has led netizens to target her husband, Joo Sang-wook, and their daughter with criticism and demands for clarification.

The personal social media account of actress Cha Ye-ryun has been flooded with demands for clarification and criticism following allegations of school violence. Although her agency has drawn a line, stating the claims are "groundless" after allegations were raised that she was involved in bullying and assault during her school years, the controversy shows no signs of subsiding as additional claims from individuals identifying as former classmates emerge. Some netizens have even brought up her husband, Joo Sang-wook, and their daughter while questioning the truth of the allegations.

Prior to the controversy, Cha Ye-ryun's social media was primarily filled with supportive reactions to her affectionate daily life with husband Joo Sang-wook. Her most recent post from this past month 19th features photos taken while attending a fashion show by designer Ji Chun-hee. However, since the school violence allegations spread, the atmosphere in the comment section has changed drastically. Messages of congratulations and affection for the couple have disappeared, replaced by a succession of posts demanding explanations and apologies regarding her past actions.

Netizens have left comments such as, "There isn't just one or two victims, yet you say it's groundless," "A friend of mine lived in Junggye-dong and I've heard related stories for a long time," and "Claims were made that she hit someone until their cheek swelled; is this also a lie?" Some have even brought her spouse into the discussion, asking, "What was Joo Sang-wook looking at when he married her?" while others have directed reactions toward her family, mentioning that her daughter's face has been made public.

The level of criticism has intensified. Demands have surfaced such as, "If this is true, it is right to apologize sincerely," and "Do not try to get away with saying you don't remember; explain honestly." Some have also begun treating unverified past stories as established facts or used mocking expressions targeting her family. Aside from the voices calling for the truth of the allegations to be verified, concerns are being raised regarding a comment culture that makes not only the party involved but also their spouse and children subjects of debate.

This controversy began with a post uploaded to an online community on the 29th of last month. The author, identified as A, posted a message titled "Please stop acting, actress born in '85 who is a perpetrator of school violence," claiming that actress B, a graduate of Junggye Middle School born in 1985, habitually bullied and assaulted them during their school years. Although no real name was written in the post, Cha Ye-ryun was mentioned based on clues such as her birth year and school.

A claimed that B was known as a so-called "iljin" (school bully) at school and repeatedly assaulted them in classrooms, bathrooms, and buildings near the school. A explained that the damage included a ruptured eardrum and cheeks swelling from being hit. A also described continuous verbal abuse and shouting, adding that due to the experience, they have suffered from depression and anxiety to the point of receiving psychiatric treatment and taking medication even decades later.

A expressed the intention to release additional materials, such as testimonies from former classmates, if the allegations are denied or if the response is that they do not remember. In response to the allegations, Cha Ye-ryun's side released a position stating they are "groundless." However, the controversy has entered a new phase as the denial from the party involved directly clashes with the claims of the anonymous whistleblower.

Subsequently, additional claims from former classmates who claim to know about Cha Ye-ryun's school days have appeared online. An individual, C, claimed that Cha Ye-ryun was one of five girls in a group of school bullies at the time, mentioning smoking, behavior of looking down on other students, and taking gym clothes or textbooks as if they were her own. However, C did not clearly state whether they personally witnessed specific acts of physical assault, separate from the claims they raised. C explained that the post was written with the sentiment that if there are victims of school violence, they should receive an apology to help heal their wounds even slightly.

Another former classmate, D, also made claims suggesting that Cha Ye-ryun acted like a so-called "iljin queen bee" in the past. D claimed that their chin was grabbed when they encountered her in a bathroom and stated that it is the right thing to admit the behavior at the time and apologize to those who were harmed. However, this is also an individual's claim released online and cannot be viewed as an objectively verified fact or an official investigation result at this time.

Cha Ye-ryun married actor Joo Sang-wook in May 2017 and gave birth to a daughter in July the following year. As she has built a friendly image by revealing her cooking and family-centered daily life through works, variety shows, and social media, these allegations are causing significant waves among the public. However, the current situation is a standoff between anonymous posts and claims from those identifying as former classmates against the denial from the agency. In a state where the facts have not been confirmed, finalizing criticism or shifting responsibility to the family could cause further wounds. The core of the controversy ultimately depends on what actually happened in the past and whether there is specific evidence to support the claims and rebuttals made by the parties involved.

Read the original (Korean)