Actor Kim Ji-soo / Courtesy of KBS By Pyo Kyung-min Several celebrities who faced scrutiny over past school bullying allegations are now attempting to return to the spotlight, igniting debates about whether they can successfully rebuild their reputations and win back public favor. On Sunday, actor Kim Ji-soo, who withdrew from the public eye three years ago following school violence allegations, shared a video titled "Actor Jisoo Road Movie Vlog" on his YouTube channel. In the video, he provided updates on his life and directly addressed the controversy that had disrupted his career.
"I've resolved misunderstandings with the friends involved in the unfortunate incidents. Now, I'm slowly trying to start again," he said in the video, indicating that he had reconciled with the initial accuser and plans to resume his acting career. Kim became the center of controversy in March 2021 when allegations of school violence and other misconduct from his youth surfaced online.
He quickly acknowledged the accusations, apologizing and admitting to his past wrongdoings. The fallout resulted in his departure from the drama "River Where the Moon Rises," with the production company subsequently filing a lawsuit against his agency for damage. While celebrities like Kim, who have been implicated in school bullying scandals, are striving to win back the hearts of fans, the path to redemption remains daunting.
Online criticism persists, and industry experts believe it will be challenging for these artists to reclaim their former popularity. This difficulty is largely driven by heightened public awareness and sensitivity toward the trauma experienced by bullying victims, amplified by recent courageous survivor testimonies and popular dramas such as "The Glory." Actors Song Ha-yoon, left and Kim Hieora, both entangled in school bullying allegations / Courtesy of JTBC, Netflix Actor Song Ha-yoon, who recently drew attention for her role in "Marry My Husband," exemplifies this struggle.
In April, an individual claimed online that Song, then a high school senior, repeatedly slapped him for 90 minutes in 2004. Although her representatives have denied the allegations, the controversy has forced Song to put her career on hold, despite her rising prominence as a villain in the hit drama. Similarly, Kim Hieora, known for her role as a school bully in "The Glory," is facing significant backlash over allegations of past school bullying.
The controversy emerged last September, and while Kim and her agency have denied the accusations, the situation remains unresolved. Despite efforts to address the issue, including meetings with those involved, the ongoing controversy has stalled her career, leading to her withdrawal from the upcoming drama "Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born." Despite the challenges, some celebrities accused of school bullying have managed to resume their careers, although with mixed receptions.
While some have returned to the industry after prolonged disputes left the details unresolved, others have acknowledged their past actions, taken a brief hiatus, and then made a comeback. Nevertheless, the notion of true redemption for public figures accused of bullying remains complex and often unresolved. Actress Kim So-hye, formerly of the K-pop girl group I.
O.I, was found by police to have been involved in reciprocal altercations rather than one-sided bullying. She has continued her acting career, appearing in films such as "Guimoon: The Lightless Door" and the drama "My Lovely Boxer.
" Stray Kids member Hyunjin, who faced bullying allegations dating back to his middle school years in 2021, took a five-month hiatus before rejoining the group. Former (G)I-DLE member Soojin, who left Cube Entertainment following a bullying controversy, made a comeback last November with a new EP and a new agency. Actor Jo Byeong-kyu, who was also involved in a school bullying scandal, has achieved partial exoneration through defamation lawsuits against his accusers.
However, one case remains unresolved due to the accuser residing in New Zealand. Despite this ongoing issue, Jo has continued his work, appearing in the drama "The Uncanny Counter" and the film "Again 1977," although his career trajectory seems to have slowed. Actress Park Hye-soo has been addressing her bullying accusations by pursuing legal action against her accusers.
Despite these ongoing battles, she has resumed her career with the release of the film "The Dream Songs" in October 2023, and discussions are reportedly underway about airing her previously postponed drama, "Dear. M.".
