Was K-pop idol Wonhee a bully at school? ILLIT fans unravel the truth

Economic Times

4 days ago

Agencies ILLIT's Wonhee Faces Backlash Over Alleged Bullying: False Claims, Cultural Deception, and HYBE's Troubled Past
HYBE's emerging girl group, ILLIT, recently found itself at the center of a brewing controversy that stirred both local and international K-pop fans. The issue began when one of the group's members, Wonhee, was targeted by an online accusation that quickly gained traction across social media platforms. The claims alleged that Wonhee had repeatedly bullied a fellow student during her school years. These assertions came to light through a now-viral post uploaded on X (formerly known as Twitter).The post, written in grammatically flawed Korean, claimed to share the real story behind Wonhee's public persona. The author stated that they had attended school alongside Wonhee and were subjected to persistent bullying by her. The tone of the message conveyed emotional distress and called on others to see through what the accuser described as a false image of the K-pop idol.Despite the shocking nature of the accusation, South Korean netizens swiftly detected irregularities in the way the story was presented. It wasn't necessarily the content of the bullying claims that raised suspicions, but rather the awkward and inconsistent Korean language used in the post. Native speakers noted that certain sentence structures and vocabulary choices were odd and unnatural, hinting at a possible non-Korean origin. — prodgselle (@prodgselle)
As the post continued to circulate, curious users began looking into the background of the person making the claims. Through digital sleuthing and cross-referencing the accuser's activity on other platforms, it was uncovered that the person was, in fact, not Korean. They were eventually identified as an Indonesian K-pop enthusiast and an outspoken fan of BLACKPINK, as per a Koreaboo report. This discovery shifted public sentiment dramatically.
Once the revelation was made, the individual was accused of 'Korean-baiting'—a "practice in which someone mimics Korean identity or uses poorly translated Korean in an attempt to gain credibility in K-pop communities. The backlash was swift and intense, as many fans and commentators condemned the deliberate attempt to mislead others by exploiting cultural markers.This incident has reignited broader concerns within the K-pop fandom about how quickly unverified allegations can spiral out of control, especially when masked with cultural appropriation or identity deception. Misinformation, especially in the digital age, travels fast and can cause real harm to idols' reputations and careers even before the truth is uncovered.Unfortunately, this isn't the first time a member of a HYBE girl group has come under fire for alleged bullying. In 2022, a similar situation unfolded with Garam, who was one of the original members of HYBE's debut girl group, LE SSERAFIM. At the time, Garam faced a barrage of accusations, including bullying, engaging in underage drinking and smoking, and involvement in school-related violence.Initially, HYBE stood by Garam and moved forward with her inclusion in the group's debut, which took place in May 2022. However, the situation escalated when an individual came forward with legal representation and produced documents reportedly confirming that disciplinary actions had been taken against Garam during her school years. The seriousness of the documents lent credibility to the accusations, prompting a public relations crisis for the company.In response, HYBE issued a statement defending Garam and disputing the validity of the evidence. Nonetheless, the controversy continued to gain momentum. The mounting pressure ultimately led to Garam's removal from the group in July 2022, just two months after their debut. LE SSERAFIM then reorganized as a five-member unit and made their first comeback without her in October of the same year with their release ANTI-FRAGILE.
Since parting ways with HYBE, Garam has kept a low public profile. She completed her studies and graduated from the School of Performing Arts Seoul (SOPA) in May 2023, according to j-14.com . Additionally, it was revealed that she had been accepted into the acting department of Dongguk University, a well-respected institution in South Korea known for producing notable performers. These recurring controversies underline the complex intersection of fame, fandom, and accountability in the world of K-pop. While bullying is a serious issue that deserves attention and action when verified, the weaponization of false claims—especially when driven by fan rivalries or disguised identities—poses its own set of ethical concerns. As the global influence of K-pop continues to grow, so too does the responsibility of fans and companies to handle such matters with transparency, integrity, and sensitivity.