Actor Go Min-si denies school bullying allegations

Actor Go Min-si / Courtesy of Netflix

Actor Go Min-si has denied allegations of school bullying, saying while she was a reckless student who enjoyed youthful misbehavior, she was never a perpetrator of violence.

Go posted a statement on her social media account addressing the controversy on Saturday. “For months I endured countless waves of anxiety while waiting for the investigation results. But I believe it is my duty to speak up now for those who have been waiting,” she wrote.

Go acknowledged that she was not an exemplary student. “I spent my school days carelessly, indulging in small acts of defiance. I regret that I was not more mature, but I have since tried to live a better life,” she said.

She added that while she accepted the burden of facing rumors, she did not want to live under a false accusation.

“I can say with certainty that I have never committed school violence,” Go said. “Other than anonymous online posts claiming otherwise, there is no evidence to support such allegations. Still, I recognize how difficult it can be for victims to provide proof. That is why I have submitted all possible materials to demonstrate that I was not a perpetrator, and the investigation is ongoing.”

Go pledged to clarify the truth even if it takes time. “School violence is a grave social issue that must be strictly punished. But exploiting this issue with malicious intent distorts its seriousness and undermines genuine victims,” she said.

In May, an anonymous online post alleged that an actor, later speculated to be Go, had engaged in extortion, verbal abuse and harassment of disabled classmates during middle and high school.

Her agency, Mystic Story, rejected the claims, calling them “groundless and false,” and said it had appointed legal counsel to pursue civil and criminal action.

This is not the first time Go has faced controversy. In 2021, photos of her drinking alcohol as a minor surfaced online. She admitted the images were real and apologized. “I acknowledge my past wrongdoing and take full responsibility. I will strive to live more maturely and properly.”

Go made her acting debut in SBS’s 2017 drama “My Sassy Girl.” She has since appeared in dramas including “Youth of May,” “Sweet Home” and “The Frog,” as well as films such as “The Witch,” and “Smugglers.”

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.