Song Ha-yoon accuser referred to prosecutors over defamation, blackmail and threats case
Song Ha-yoon’s legal team said police recommended indicting the school bullying accuser after an additional investigation reversed an earlier non-referral decision.
The person who accused actor Song Ha-yoon of school bullying has been referred to prosecutors on charges including defamation and blackmail, Song's legal representative said on Thursday.
“The police recently referred [the accuser] to prosecutors with a recommendation for indictment on charges of defamation, obstruction of business and making threats,” said Song's legal attorneys at Kim & Kim law firm.
The law firm refuted reports that the case had been closed by police. Earlier this year, some media outlets reported that police had decided not to pursue the case after Song filed a criminal complaint against the accuser in February.
“Police had initially declined to refer the case, but Song challenged the decision through the proper legal procedures,” said the law firm. "All charges against the suspect were recognized after several months of additional investigation, and the case has now been referred to prosecutors with a recommendation for indictment.”
The firm explained that it had not disclosed the referral earlier because the actor had “endured considerable hardship” during the prolonged controversy.
"Rather than publicizing the facts and fueling unnecessary controversy, we hoped the matter would be quietly corrected,” said the law firm.
An interview with the accuser who claimed actor Song Ha-yoon bullied her in high school, aired on SBS current affairs talk show "Curious Stories Y" (2009-) in April 2024.SCREEN CAPTURE
The bullying allegations first surfaced in April 2024 when the accuser appeared on JTBC's current affairs talk show "Crime Chief" (2014-).
"I was slapped for an hour and a half by Song Ha-yoon, who was my senior, when I was in my second year of high school in 2004," the accuser said. "Song Ha-yoon was forced to transfer schools after being involved in a group assault."
Song denied the allegations.
"I have never met [the accuser] and have never committed any act of violence," Song said. "I was never forced to transfer schools."
Song made her debut as an extra in KBS drama "Sang Doo! Let's Go to School" (2003) and later became known for her roles in films such as "Intimate Strangers" (2018) and TV shows such as "Marry My Husband" (2024).
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
