Cha Ye-ryun Gets a Second "Groundless" Statement From HB Entertainment in Five Days

Cha Ye-ryun's agency, HB Entertainment, issued a second statement on the 4th calling the school bullying allegations against her "groundless" and promising "strong measures." The first denial came on the 30th of last month, and it clearly didn't end the story.

The agency said it is taking the situation "very seriously": unverified anonymous claims and speculation keep spreading, and the blame has now reached the actress's family. It said it will secure relevant materials, go through legal review, and respond responsibly to "malicious spread of false information and personal attacks."

How an anonymous post became a named controversy

The allegations began in late October with an online post titled roughly "85-born actress bullying perpetrator, please stop working." The writer claimed a woman born in 1985, from the same middle school, repeatedly bullied and beat them. The post alleged violence in classrooms, bathrooms and nearby buildings, including a torn eardrum and a swollen cheek. The writer also said they still take medication for depression and anxiety. The post threatened to release classmates' testimony and further evidence if the allegation was denied.

The post never named the actress. Some users pointed to Cha Ye-ryun anyway, citing the birth year, the school and initials. HB Entertainment responded on the 30th with "groundless" after checking. The post was later restricted from access as a temporary measure as of the 2nd. That step doesn't rule on whether the content is true.

The second wave, and the family

The denial didn't stop the comments. People calling themselves classmates kept posting, and some demanded an apology if she did anything wrong. Criticism then spilled onto the Instagram account of her husband, actor Joo Sang-wook, where users asked for an explanation. The couple married in 2017 and had a daughter the following year.

On the 1st, the production team of her YouTube channel, Chajanggeum Cha Ye-ryun, said it learned of the matter while in the United States with her, and apologized for the delayed response. The team said it manages comments on its own judgment, without input from the cast. It disabled comments and hid some videos to curb rumors and attacks on her family.

A new claim surfaced on the 3rd. A YouTube channel presented a comment from a user who said they worked as a golf caddy and handled a round for a group including Cha in 2012 or 2013. The user alleged she spoke informally and rudely. Nobody has confirmed that the person worked as a caddy or that the round happened, and none of the claims so far has been independently verified.

So the situation is a flat denial from the agency, anonymous accusations that keep multiplying, and no evidence made public by either side. The legal threat targets false information and personal attacks, which suggests HB Entertainment is betting on the lack of proof. Whether the accuser follows through on the promised testimony is the next thing to watch.