ENTERTAINMENT
Netflix's 'Single's Inferno 4' Star Kook Dong-ho Denies School Bullying Allegations, Plans Legal Action
On the 4th, Kook's agency, Mood Corporation, released an official statement titled 'Mood Corporation's Position on the Spread of False Information Regarding Kook Dong-ho'.
The agency stated, "We will clarify the truth based on objective data and evidence. The opposing party is making unilateral claims by mentioning specific circumstances, and we have recognized the seriousness of this matter and conducted a thorough fact-checking process." They further stated, "Kook Dong-ho underwent a strict pre-screening process before appearing on the popular entertainment program, and our internal investigation confirmed that he was not involved in any of the alleged violent acts or so-called 'school power abuse' mentioned in the posts." The agency added, "We are currently securing additional objective evidence to prove this and will clearly reveal the truth."
The agency expressed regret over "social murder through unilateral public opinion formation." They warned against the opposing party, who is a legal professional, using their social status to spread unverified claims to the public and severely damaging the artist's reputation. They emphasized, "Reckless targeting before legal judgment only creates more victims," and promised to "correct the truth through formal legal procedures as soon as possible." They also apologized to fans and stakeholders, pledging to do their utmost to protect the rights and interests of their artist.
In addition to the official statement, a representative from Kook's agency commented, "Even during the 'Single's Inferno' appearance, Kook underwent a thorough three-step review process, so we believe these claims are baseless." They added, "Kook is currently working as an accountant and is in a busy situation. He even discussed quitting his influencer activities with the company in January 2026, so the online posts are incomprehensible." The representative also mentioned, "Due to the opposing party's profession, we need to review this matter more carefully and thoroughly, and we plan to continue discussions with Kook Dong-ho."
The school bullying allegations against Kook Dong-ho arose when a current lawyer, referred to as A, mentioned Kook's real name while claiming to be a victim of school bullying. On the 3rd, A posted on their social media, "I was bullied by school bullies during my school days," and claimed, "Kook Dong-ho, who was the boyfriend of B, who led the bullying, made a so-called confession attack on me (confessing to me in front of others, including his girlfriend, and laughing)." A also alleged, "At the time, B placed thumbtacks on my chair during breaks and applied superglue to my locker lock to prevent it from opening," and claimed, "Kook Dong-ho, who was a famous bully at school, knew about this and enjoyed it."
Kook Dong-ho gained fame through his appearance on Netflix's 'Single's Inferno 4'. He is a handsome certified public accountant from Korea University, standing at 188cm, who caught the attention of viewers. While A claimed that Kook had quit his professional career to become an influencer, it has been confirmed that Kook is currently running his own accounting firm.
Below is the official statement from Kook Dong-ho's agency.
Mood Corporation's Position on the Spread of False Information Regarding Kook Dong-ho
First, we sincerely apologize for causing concern with unexpected news regarding our artist, Kook Dong-ho. We would like to clarify our official position on the posts related to Kook Dong-ho's past school days that have been spreading through online communities and social media (X, etc.).
1. We will clarify the truth based on objective data and evidence. The opposing party is making unilateral claims by mentioning specific circumstances, and we have recognized the seriousness of this matter and conducted a thorough fact-checking process. Kook Dong-ho underwent a strict pre-screening process before appearing on the popular entertainment program, and our internal investigation confirmed that he was not involved in any of the alleged violent acts or so-called 'school power abuse' mentioned in the posts. We are currently securing additional objective evidence to prove this and will clearly reveal the truth.
2. We will continue to respond strongly without leniency to reckless speculation and malicious posts. As unverified exposés spread, not only the artist but also his family and acquaintances are suffering severe mental distress. We plan to take strict civil and criminal legal action against the real-time spread of false information, defamatory posts, and malicious slander without any settlement or leniency.
3. We express deep regret over social murder through unilateral public opinion formation. The opposing party, who is a legal professional, is using their social status to spread unverified claims to the public and severely damaging the artist's reputation. Reckless targeting before legal judgment only creates more victims. We will correct the truth through formal legal procedures as soon as possible. We apologize once again to fans and stakeholders who support Kook Dong-ho, and we will do our utmost to protect the rights and interests of our artist.
Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr
