Song Ha-yoon school bullying accuser returns to Korea, plans $73 mil. damages suit

Actor Song Ha-yoon / Courtesy of KingKong by Starship Entertainment

A man who accused actress Song Ha-yoon, 38, of school bullying two decades ago has returned to Korea and announced plans to file a 10 billion won ($73 million) damages lawsuit.

The accuser, identified only by the surname Oh, wrote on an online community on Aug. 25, “I never intended this to turn into an expose or a dispute. I suggested a way for Song to resolve the matter with dignity, but it was not accepted. Now I will cooperate with investigators and file a complaint.”

Oh added that he had covered his own travel costs to Korea, including airfare, lodging and transportation, and would later seek reimbursement through legal channels.

“I am preparing a damages claim of 10 billion won, covering mental suffering, international defamation, harm from false criminal procedures, loss of social livelihood and denial of rebuttal rights,” he said.

“It also reflects obstruction of truth-telling in the public interest, expenses borne as an overseas resident, prevention of secondary harm, the seriousness of countersuits based on false claims and the symbolic meaning of preventing similar cases in the future.”

Two-decade-old bullying claim

Oh first came forward in April last year on JTBC’s “Crime Chief,” claiming Song assaulted him for 90 minutes in August 2004 while they were in high school. He later released Instagram messages sent to Song and KakaoTalk exchanges with agency staff as evidence. Song denied the allegations at the time, saying, “I have never met Oh.”

Song’s legal representative, Ji-eum Law Firm, said on July 2 that it had filed a criminal complaint against Oh for defamation and obstruction of business by fraudulent means.

Police attempted to investigate, but Oh, claiming to be a U.S. citizen, refused to cooperate. Police subsequently placed him on a wanted list in May, the firm said. Song is also reviewing possible legal action in the United States and preparing to hold third parties who spread the allegations civilly and criminally liable.

Oh countered that the police notice was a “clear distortion of facts.” He also rejected Song’s offer to cover airfare, hotel and transportation, calling it “a limited partial reimbursement.”

The case is expected to escalate as Oh proceeds with his damages claim and Song continues his legal counteraction.

Song rose to prominence with her role in tvN’s 2024 hit drama “Marry My Husband,” which earned her wide recognition.

This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.