Song Ha Yoon has officially taken legal action one year after facing allegations of school violence. According to her legal team at Ji-eum Law Firm on July 2, the Kdrama actress has filed a criminal complaint against her former classmate, Mr. Oh. He first spread the claims that she bullied him in high school about 20 years ago.
Last year, Mr. Oh went public, saying Song Ha Yoon bullied him for over an hour when they were teenagers. She immediately denied the accusations but struggled to prove that the incident never happened. Since then, Song has gathered evidence, including official documents, notarized statements, and witness testimonies, to clear her name.
Her lawyer explained that a key witness named by Mr. Oh confirmed he never saw any bullying. Despite this, Mr. Oh continued to claim he had a witness and pushed the story to the media. Her team says this has caused her serious damage and stress, ruining the reputation she built over her 22-year career.
The situation is complicated because Mr. Oh now lives in the United States. Though he claims to be an American citizen, Korean authorities confirmed he still holds South Korean citizenship. He has refused to cooperate with the police investigation, so officials issued a warrant for his arrest and put him on a wanted list in May. If he enters Korea, the police plan to question him immediately.
Song Ha Yoon is also preparing possible legal steps in the U.S. She plans to hold Mr. Oh and others who spread the false claims responsible, both criminally and civilly. Her lawyer added that more people who helped spread rumors online or through TV could also face legal action.
In her statement, Song Ha Yoon said she never committed any violence or changed schools because of bullying. She explained that her old homeroom teacher and classmates have backed her up, saying they never heard about any school violence involving her.
The Devilish Charm actress said she stayed quiet at first because she believed the truth would come out on its own, but the accusations kept spreading and damaging her image. Now, she hopes to prove her innocence through a fair investigation instead of public speculation.
After the controversy broke last year, Song Ha Yoon was at the peak of her career following her role in Marry My Husband. She is now looking to return to the public with new, exciting projects.
Song Ha Yoon’s contract with her former agency has ended, and she is focusing on starting over while clearing her name once and for all.
Here is a complete statement from her legal representatives
Regarding the school violence allegations raised about 20 years ago involving Song Ha Yoon last year, the actress has consistently stated from the start that these claims are not true. However, proving that something never happened was extremely difficult, which made it hard for her to actively respond at the time.
Since then, Song Ha Yoon has worked to collect evidence to prove that the claims made by Mr. Oh, the original source of the rumor, are false. As a result, she has secured substantial evidence and has now filed a criminal complaint against Mr. Oh. We, as her legal counsel, would like to explain the recent actions taken by the actress, the status of the investigation, and her official position. We also wish to inform you of recent changes in her situation and her plans moving forward.
Please refer to the following statement for more details. Thank you.
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Actress Song Ha Yoon has filed a criminal complaint against Mr. Oh, the original source of the rumors, for violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (defamation) and for obstruction of business through deceit.
The police confirmed the need to investigate Mr. Oh’s defamation and related actions but found that Mr. Oh, who claims to be a U.S. citizen, currently resides in the United States and has repeatedly refused to cooperate with the investigation. Through official channels, including the Ministry of Justice, the police verified that Mr. Oh still holds South Korean citizenship and proceeded with the investigation. However, Mr. Oh continues to avoid entering Korea and has not responded to the investigation.
As Mr. Oh failed to appear for questioning without any valid reason, the police issued a wanted notice for him this past May and added him to the police wanted list. If Mr. Oh enters Korea, the police will be notified immediately, and the investigation will resume without delay.
Currently, Song Ha Yoon is also considering additional legal measures that can be pursued in the United States. Together with her legal team, she is preparing to hold other third parties who took part in spreading false information accountable, both civilly and criminally.
Song Ha Yoon has confirmed with a former high school classmate, whom Mr. Oh claimed was a witness to the alleged assault, that no such incident was ever witnessed. The classmate has also clearly told Mr. Oh the same, yet Mr. Oh still claimed this person was a witness and pushed the story to TV broadcasters. Additionally, Song Ha Yoon contacted her former homeroom teacher, who confirmed that they had never heard of any forced school transfer due to violence. Several other classmates also stepped forward, stating, “If anything, she was the type to be hurt, never to hurt others.”
Because of these illegal acts that have seriously damaged her reputation built over 22 years, Song Ha Yoon has suffered significant harm and extreme mental distress. She chose to wait for the objective truth to come out through a proper investigation rather than rushing to make statements, and she asks for your understanding for the time it has taken to share this update.
Song Ha Yoon sincerely apologizes to everyone who trusted and supported her for the concern this matter has caused.
She has also concluded her contract with her former agency and is preparing to return to the public eye with a fresh mindset in a new environment. She promises to repay everyone’s support with an even more humble and mature attitude going forward.
