Actor Song Ha-yoon files complaint against school bullying accuser, denies all allegations
Actor Song Ha-yoon / Yonhap
Actor Song Ha-yoon has taken legal action against the original source of online accusations that she committed school violence more than two decades ago.
Nearly a year after the allegations surfaced, Song is reaffirming her denial and describing the intense emotional toll the issue has taken on her.
Song’s legal representative at law firm Jium released a formal statement on Wednesday, saying the actor has filed a criminal complaint against the individual who first spread the accusations, identified as “A,” for defamation.
“From the beginning, Song Ha-yoon has maintained that the allegations related to her school years are not true,” the statement said. “However, proving that something did not happen is inherently difficult, and this made an active response even harder.”
According to the firm, Song independently gathered evidence over the past year and submitted materials to authorities.
Police determined there was sufficient cause to pursue an investigation, but A, who currently lives in the U.S. and claims to be a U.S. citizen, has consistently refused to cooperate.
Authorities, including the Ministry of Justice, confirmed that A still holds Korean citizenship. However, despite repeated attempts by investigators, A has refused to cooperate by returning to Korea or responding to police summons.
In May, police issued a wanted person notice through their national system, meaning any entry into Korea will immediately trigger notification and resumption of the investigation.
Song is now reviewing possible legal measures within the U.S. and preparing civil and criminal suits against others who spread related false information.
The legal team reiterated that Song never committed violence against A in high school and denied the allegation that she was forcibly transferred due to school bullying.
They added that public records, notarized statements and testimonies from witnesses, including Song’s former homeroom teacher and classmates, confirm that the incident did not occur. A key witness has also stated that they witnessed no such act of violence.
“For the past 22 years, Song Ha-yoon has built her reputation, and that has been severely damaged by these false claims,” the legal team said. “She has suffered extreme mental distress. Rather than rushing to issue a denial, she believed it was more important to rely on objective investigations to uncover the truth, which is why her response has taken time.”
Song Ha-yoon in a scene from the drama “Marry My Husband” / Courtesy of tvN
The school bullying controversy first emerged in April 2024, with an online post alleging that during her high school years in 2004, Song slapped a younger student repeatedly for an hour and a half.
The post also circulated rumors that she had been forcibly transferred to another school. The school bullying allegation emerged just as Song was gaining attention for her appearance in tvN's hit drama “Marry My Husband.”
At the time, her agency, King Kong by Starship, denied the claims.
Nevertheless, backlash continued even after her series “Weak Hero Class of ’07” was released on Wavve and Watcha, with promotional stills excluding her image. Now, Song has spoken out through her legal counsel.
Song’s contract with her former agency has expired, and she is currently preparing for a new chapter in her career. “We ask for your continued interest and warm support,” her legal representative said.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.