On September 6, it was announced that the 9th episode of 'SNL Korea 4' starring Kim Hieora would be canceled following the actress' school violence controversy.
The actress known for her role in 'The Glory' has faced significant scrutiny following a report by Dispatch, which delved into her purportedly controversial past. Kim Hieora's involvement in a bullying circle called Big Sangji during her middle school years at Sangji Girls' Middle School in Wonju, Gangwon Province, came to light through the investigation. This group, often referred to as a "gang," had a notorious reputation for engaging in various forms of bullying, including extortion, physical assault, and verbal abuse against fellow students.
Through her agency, Kim Hieora openly acknowledged her affiliation with the group, but she maintained that she did not engage in any physical abuse toward other students; instead, she claimed to have played a passive role as a bystander. She also disclosed that she herself had been subjected to physical harm by older students within the circle.
Kim Hieora's label Gram Entertainment stated, "We apologize for causing concern to so many people because of the sudden news. We're preparing an official statement, so we kindly ask that you wait. We once again apologize with heavy hearts."
Nevertheless, many Korean netizens are criticizing the actress for taking on the role of a school violence perpetrator, reminding her victims of the horrible past. Koreans also speculate that Kim Hieora's realistic acting in 'The Glory' was based on real-life experiences.
Korean netizens commented, "Does she have no conscience to even film a school violence drama?? I guess celebrities are now set to 'school violence perpetrators' as default? She was a perfect fit, I guess it was based on her real-life experience...There are going to be a lot of people who are haunted by nightmares again since the drama was so successful. How can she deny she was a bully when there are so many people who remember that time?" "Even if she's saying she wasn't the ringleader but just hung out with bullies...to the victims they're all the same," "I guess, she wasn't really good at acting," "They need to punish school bullies harshly," "She basically portrayed her real-life self on 'The Glory'" "The little bullies who are growing up right now, don't you dare think about becoming famous. The world has changed so your past will be exposed even if you regret what you did," and "Her acting was based on real life."
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