Cha Ye-ryun Denies Bullying Claims, Yet Her Channel Now Disables Comments

The production team behind actress Cha Ye-ryun's YouTube channel, Chajanggeum Cha Ye-ryun, posted a notice on the 1st saying that comments on the channel are managed by the crew's own judgment, "without the involvement of the cast." The statement came after online claims that comments were being deleted once school bullying allegations against the actress began circulating.

The crew said it learned of the situation while traveling with Cha in the United States, and asked viewers to understand the delay in responding. It also said that while the matter is being checked, it will disable some videos and comment sections to prevent "indiscriminate spread of rumors" and personal attacks on her family. Replies under the post were largely supportive, with subscribers writing messages such as "Stay strong" and "I believe it isn't true."

How the allegations started

The controversy began on the 29th of last month, when a post titled with a plea for a female actress born in 1985 to stop working appeared on an online community. The author said they were bullied and assaulted repeatedly at a Seoul middle school, with incidents allegedly taking place in hallways, restrooms, a playground and a building near the school. They also claimed they were slapped hard enough to rupture an eardrum, and asked for an apology.

The post did not name the accused. Netizens pointed to Cha because the age, school and initials described matched her. Further posts from people claiming to be her classmates have followed.

What the agency has said

HB Entertainment told reporters on the 30th that the claims were "groundless" after checking. On the 1st, a representative said there was no additional statement, and that the agency was neither reviewing legal action nor discussing a further response.

Worth noting: the crew's notice deals only with how the channel handles comments. It does not address the allegations themselves, which remain unverified.

Cha debuted in 2005 in the horror film Whispering Corridors 4: Voice and became known through dramas including Royal Family, Glamorous Temptation and Elegant Mother and Daughter. She married actor Joo Sang-wook in 2017, and the couple have one daughter.