Celebrity School Violence Allegations: A Recurring Controversy in the Entertainment Industry

Celebrity school violence (hereafter referred to as 'school violence') allegations frequently lead to disputes between the accuser and the accused, often ending without a clear resolution. The difficulty in establishing facts from long ago and the potential career-ending consequences for celebrities admitting to such actions have made these truth games a recurring pattern.

Following the school violence allegations against An Se-ha, a familiar pattern of truth battles has emerged. The public's reaction is one of familiarity rather than surprise, as such controversies regularly surface in the entertainment industry. Most stars, including An Se-ha, respond to these allegations by denying them and threatening legal action if rumors continue to spread.

On the 9th, an online community post claimed that An Se-ha had committed school violence during his school days. The accuser, identified as A, alleged that "An Se-ha threatened me by picking up a broken glass shard and stabbing my stomach. He also forced me into unwanted fights with a gang member." An Se-ha's agency, Hunus Entertainment, strongly denied these claims and announced plans for legal action.

However, additional accusers, including B, a former classmate and current teacher, have come forward to support A's claims. A has also posted a second statement, calling for legal judgment.

Despite An Se-ha's denial of the allegations, the controversy has led to the cancellation of his scheduled first pitch event. On the 11th, the NC Dinos baseball team stated, "Regardless of the truth, it is not appropriate to proceed with the event before the issue involving the actor is resolved. Both the team and the agency agreed."

In addition to the first pitch event, the musical 'Gentleman's Guide' has also been affected. An Se-ha was initially scheduled to perform on the 13th, but the production company stated on the 12th that "nothing has been decided" regarding his participation due to the school violence allegations.

Before An Se-ha, several other celebrities, including Kim Hee-ra, Park Hye-soo, Song Ha-yoon, Jeon Jong-seo, Cho Byung-kyu, and Ji Soo, have faced school violence allegations. Each has taken different approaches to maintain their careers. Kim Hee-ra claimed to have resolved the issue with the accuser, while Park Hye-soo, Jeon Jong-seo, and Cho Byung-kyu repeatedly denied the allegations and continued their work.

Ji Soo and Park Kyung admitted to the allegations and took a hiatus from their careers, though they did not retire. After several years of inactivity, they appeared to be preparing for a comeback. Song Ha-yoon denied the allegations but chose to quietly step back from her career as the accuser continued to make claims.

Celebrities embroiled in school violence controversies seem to take the best possible stance, considering their contracts with agencies and other entertainment industry stakeholders. Admitting to school violence can lead to a lasting negative image, reducing public and industry support. While it is right to assert the truth if innocent, lying to continue a career is highly criticized. Admitting to school violence and ending one's entertainment career is not an unfair consequence but a rightful responsibility.

So-jung Lee, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr