'The Glory' actress Kim Hieora faces bullying allegations

Kim Hieora in a scene from "The Glory"/ Courtesy of Netflix

By Kim Se-jeong

Actress Kim Hieora, renowned for her role in the Netflix drama, “The Glory,” faces bullying allegations raised by a local news outlet.

The actress denied the allegations, while her entertainment company urged the public to refrain from spreading baseless information and warned of legal consequences for defamation.

“We'd like to ask people to stop spreading factually incorrect information,” Kim's entertainment company said in a statement. “We will respond to malicious actions that defame the actress.”

According to the Korean-language news agency, Dispatch, Kim was allegedly part of a notorious school gang at Sangji Middle School in Wonju, Gangwon Province. She allegedly harassed her schoolmates and was also reportedly involved in case of theft on campus. Dispatch interviewed the victims.

The actress acknowledged her association with the school gang, but denied any involvement in acts of physical violence against others. “I wasn't a good student. I was a gang member, but wasn't active. I wasn't so bad that I intentionally harmed others,” she wrote on her Instagram account.

In “The Glory,” Kim played Lee Sa-rah, a villain who tormented the main character, Moon Dong-eun, played by Song Hye-gyo.

The allegations have already impacted her career.

Coupang Play said it will cancel an upcoming show featuring the actress, originally scheduled for broadcast Sept. 9. However, the actress will continue her role in the musical, “Frida,” playing the lead character, Frida Kahlo, a Mexican artist. The musical opened last month.

Kim Hieora/ Courtesy of Netflix