South Korean actress Cha Ye Ryun has found herself at the center of growing controversy following allegations of school bullying and mistreatment of others, prompting her agency to issue another firm denial and announce plans for legal action.
On November 4, HB Entertainment released an official statement addressing the allegations circulating online, emphasizing that the accusations against the actress remain unsubstantiated.
The agency also expressed concern that the controversy had escalated beyond Cha Ye Ryun herself, with criticism and personal attacks now targeting her family, including her husband, actor Joo Sang Wook.
The controversy began in late October when an anonymous individual published an online post claiming to have experienced bullying and physical violence during middle school at the hands of an actress born in 1985. Although the original post did not explicitly identify the alleged perpetrator, some netizens began speculating that the actress in question was Cha Ye Ryun.
Their suspicions were reportedly based on details such as the actress’s birth year and educational background. As the allegations spread across online communities, Cha Ye Ryun’s name became increasingly associated with the accusations.
However, the original anonymous post did not name Cha Ye Ryun, and no objective evidence establishing her involvement has been made public. On October 30, HB Entertainment responded to the controversy, denying the allegations.
“After checking, we have confirmed that the allegations are completely unfounded.”
By November 2, access to the original post had been temporarily restricted. However, the temporary restriction does not constitute a determination that the allegations were either true or false. Despite the agency’s initial denial, the controversy continued to develop. Additional comments reportedly appeared online from individuals claiming to have attended the same school as the actress.
Meanwhile, criticism began spreading to Joo Sang Wook’s personal social media account, with some netizens directing their frustration toward him despite his not being implicated in the original allegations.
The decision reflected growing concern about the impact of the controversy on individuals beyond the actress herself. As the school bullying controversy continued, another allegation involving Cha Ye Ryun surfaced online.
On November 3, a separate account was introduced on a channel, reportedly written by an individual who claimed to have previously worked as a golf course caddie. The individual alleged that Cha Ye Ryun had treated them rudely during an encounter. However, the person’s employment history has not been verified, and the circumstances described in the allegation have not been independently established.
Nevertheless, its emergence added another dimension to the ongoing discussion surrounding the actress.
“We deeply regret causing concern to fans and the public over the recent controversy surrounding Cha Ye Ryun that has continued to spread online. We take the current situation very seriously, as unverified anonymous claims and speculation continue to spread repeatedly, and criticism has even been directed toward the actress’s family. Regarding the malicious spread of false information and personal attacks, we will thoroughly collect relevant evidence and respond responsibly following legal review. We will take strong measures to ensure that the harm does not escalate any further.”
While the accusations have generated online discussion, none of the school bullying or golf course mistreatment allegations described in the reports has been objectively verified. HB Entertainment continues to deny the school bullying claims and has announced its intention to pursue legal measures against malicious falsehoods and personal attacks.