Seo Yea-ji. Photo by Seo Yea-ji Instagram capture
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Actress Seo Yea-ji has denied all allegations including the 'Kim Jung-hyun manipulation theory,' school violence (bullying), and academic fraud, while the expos?s from staff members claiming to have worked with Seo Yea-ji are drawing attention.
Previously, on October 4, 2017, a post questioning Seo Yea-ji's character was uploaded on Naver Knowledge-iN.
In response, on July 1, 2020, a netizen wrote, "As someone who worked with her for several years, I never want to be involved again. I cried a lot and had a really hard time working with her, and my hands and feet tremble whenever she appears on TV."
After Seo Yea-ji became embroiled in controversy over the 'Kim Jung-hyun manipulation theory,' on the 13th, netizens claiming to be staff who worked with Seo Yea-ji raised successive allegations of power abuse.
Netizen A said that "The incident with last year's drama 'Time' is not surprising as I heard it from someone in the industry," and revealed that she suffered from secondhand smoke and verbal abuse from Seo Yea-ji, and was not even treated as a person.
He stated, "(Seo Yea-ji) would blow cigarette smoke in my face over small mistakes, curse profusely, scold me, and was notorious for treating people like maids and ignoring them as if they were piglets."
A said, "There are many photos of us working together, but sometimes my phone was checked, so I couldn't record anything," and added, "If you work with her, you'll understand, so try working with her. If we meet at the police station over spreading false information, that person won't have anything to say," emphasizing that his expos? is not false.
Another netizen B, who introduced themselves as someone who worked with Seo Yea-ji, said on the same day, "When the article first came out yesterday, I felt it was cause and effect. I felt good. But after reading A's post today, my gloomy feelings resurfaced. I also experienced everything. The situations differ, so the details vary, but it's so similar that it gives me goosebumps," he revealed.
Seo Ye-ji has been accused of abusing her power towards staff members she previously worked with. Photo by Online Community Capture.
B wrote, "Seo Yea-ji always said that since she is an actor who works with emotions, the staff around her must all accommodate her, but in reality, she brutally trampled on the dignity of her own staff."
B added, "Seo Yea-ji did not forget to make threatening remarks to staff who quit," and said, "(Seo Yea-ji) threatened by saying things like 'This industry is small. Watch your mouth. I can make it so you can't work in this industry.'"
B explained that the reason he did not quit was because of his 'dream.'
He said, "I started with the conviction that Seo Yea-ji would succeed. So I endured. I was afraid I would regret quitting when Seo Yea-ji became famous. When an actor becomes popular, quality projects come in, and that becomes my career. I endured and endured thinking only of that, but after quitting and much time passed, all I had left was regret," he vented.
He continued, "It was truly a hellish time in my life. I am a witness to A's post and also a victim. I hope others who have experienced this directly will have the courage to speak up," he wrote.
Seo Ye-ji has been accused of abusing her power over staff members she previously worked with. Photo by Online Community Capture.
Earlier, Seo Yea-ji was caught up in the 'Kim Jung-hyun manipulation theory' after it was revealed that she dated Kim Jung-hyun in the past. On the 12th, Dispatch reported that at the production presentation of the MBC TV drama 'Time,' in which Kim Jung-hyun played the lead in 2018, he refused skinship with his partner Seo Hyun, repeatedly exhibited such behavior during filming, and eventually withdrew midway, which was due to demands from Seo Yea-ji, who was his girlfriend at the time.
According to text message conversations between the two released by Dispatch, Seo Yea-ji showed behavior close to gaslighting Kim Jung-hyun. Seo Yea-ji instructed Kim Jung-hyun not to get close to the co-star Seo Hyun or female staff members. Kim Jung-hyun later withdrew from the drama, citing eating disorders and panic disorder.
Following the 'Kim Jung-hyun manipulation theory,' allegations of school violence perpetration and academic fraud were also raised against Seo Yea-ji.
Seo Yea-ji's side acknowledged that she dated fellow actor Kim Jung-hyun in the past but denied that she influenced Kim Jung-hyun's withdrawal from the drama.
Seo Yea-ji's agency Gold Medalist stated on the 13th, "After confirming with Kim Jung-hyun's side, it was clearly confirmed that the drama-related controversy did not arise because of Seo Yea-ji."
Kim Jung-hyun also explained that there was a conversation where he asked Seo Yea-ji, who was appearing in another drama, not to film a kissing scene, saying, "This can be seen as a common lovers' quarrel between actors in the industry."
The agency also addressed the allegations of academic fraud and school violence against Seo Yea-ji, stating, "She was accepted to and was preparing to enroll at the Complutense University of Madrid in Madrid, Spain, but subsequently began activities in Korea and was unable to attend university normally. Regarding the additional allegations of school violence, we firmly state that they are not true."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
