On June 24, Yonhap News reported that a man in his 30s, surnamed Park, who previously appeared on “I Am SOLO” and its spin-off “I Am SOLO: Love Continues,” was urgently arrested by police for allegedly committing quasi-rape.
According to the authorities, the incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on June 21 in a parking lot in Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Park is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in her 20s at the location.
Following immediate police action, an arrest warrant was issued late on June 23, underscoring the seriousness of the charges. The case continues to be investigated.
In response, the “I Am SOLO” production team posted a statement on its official YouTube channel Chonjang Entertainment, saying:
“We have confirmed via news reports that a court has issued an arrest warrant for cast member Mr. Park in relation to the alleged crime. We recognize the seriousness of the matter and will take measures to prevent any discomfort to our viewers.”
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They added,
“We will edit and delete all previously aired footage featuring the cast member to the best of our ability. We deeply acknowledge our responsibility in managing cast members and will implement much stricter oversight going forward.”
In the comment section under news reports, netizens have begun speculating about Park’s identity, pointing to hints about his season and background. Among the top comments:
- “25th season, former soccer player” (Response: “Gasp, it’s true? Unbelievable.”)
- “17 Oksoon’s Donghwang-chaa~~!”
- “Who is it?”
- “The quality of I Am SOLO contestants keeps dropping. The show has become just another ratings-chasing mess filled with uncomfortable and provocative content.”
Attention also turned to fellow 25th generation cast member Youngcheol, who suddenly set his Instagram account to private. Youngcheol, a former professional football player and graduate of Yonsei University’s Department of Physical Education, recently drew attention for a heartfelt conversation teased with fellow cast member Oksoon (from the 17th season).
The arrest has reignited criticism toward casting standards on reality shows, with many calling for more rigorous background checks and greater responsibility from production teams in vetting participants.