K-Drama Flops Tied to School Bullying Allegations: Park Hye-soo, Jo Byung-gyu, and Song Ha-yoon

Park Hye-soo, Jo Byung-gyu, and Song Ha-yoon three actors once promising, now face brutal public backlash, as their dramas underperform amid resurfaced school bullying controversies.

Park Hye-soo

The most recent example is Dear.M, starring Park Hye-soo, which finally aired its finale on May 21. Initially scheduled to broadcast in February 2021, the drama was postponed for four years after school bullying accusations against Park Hye-soo emerged just five days before the premiere. Despite her firm denial, the unresolved allegations led KBS to cancel the domestic release.

The series was first quietly released in June 2022 via Japan’s streaming platform U-NEXT, with lukewarm reception. Park Hye-soo later attempted a return with the 2023 indie film You and I, reigniting discussions about Dear.M’s release. However, unresolved legal issues once again blocked KBS from airing the show, relegating it to KBS Joy, a lesser-known cable channel. As a result, ratings remained dismal, with the final episode earning just 0.1% viewership.

Critics slammed the decision to air it at all: “Better left unreleased.” The drama, once anticipated, failed to resonate, with outdated themes and weak promotion.

Public sentiment toward Park Hye-soo remains cold. Though she pleaded her innocence in post-film interviews and claimed to be pursuing legal clarity, the “school bully” label still haunts her.

Jo Byung-gu & Song Ha-yoon

Similarly, The History of Losers, a drama featuring Jo Byung-gyu and Song Ha-yoon, suffered a delayed release due to both actors being linked to past bullying allegations. Shot in 2022, it was only released this year on OTT platform Wavve after three years of limbo. The drama had little marketing Song Ha-yoon was even erased from teasers and posters.

With weak buzz and low engagement, the drama failed to make a dent in viewer rankings. Although Wavve claimed internal success, public reception was evidently lacking. Jo Byung-gyu publicly denied the allegations, while Song Ha-yoon remained silent, intensifying criticism.

For K-drama actors, school bullying allegations are career-altering, directly impacting drama performance and public image. These recent flops underscore the industry’s struggle to overcome such scandals, even years after they surface.