Seo Ye-ji Address All Scandals with Sarcastic “SNL Korea” Appearance: Gaslighting to Academic Fraud?
After years of public scrutiny and silence, Seo Ye-ji made a bold return on the April 12 episode of Coupang Play’s “SNL Korea 7”, using satire to confront the scandals that once put her career on pause. In a string of comedy skits, the actress did not shy away from topics like her alleged academic fraud, gaslighting accusations, and her infamous involvement with actor Kim Jung-hyun.
Turning Scandals Into Satire
In one standout skit titled “Shy Ye-ji,” Seo Ye-ji played a seemingly innocent woman new to dating. But when her lies were revealed on stage, her tone dropped and she coldly confessed, “I only acted pure because I thought that’s what you liked. I tried lying—everyone knew anyway.”
This unexpected line was a direct parody of her 2017 academic controversy, in which Seo ye-ji was accused of fabricating her enrollment at a University in Madrid, Spaid. Although her agency claimed she had received an acceptance letter, reports suggested she never actually enrolled, despite speaking about her college experience in multiple interviews.
Throughout the episode, Seo Ye-ji played into public perception of her character, referencing the 2021 gaslighting scandal involving actor Kim Jung-hyun, in which she was accused of manipulating him during the filming of the drama “Time”. Specifically, at one point, she declared, “I’ll gaslight the entire SNL crew to make this show fun.”
She also revisited the iconic “Kim Ddak-ddak” (Kim Stiff) nickname tied to Kim Jung-hyun’s robotic on-screen behavior, allegedly under her influence. In the “Eve Hair Salon” skit, a customer mentioned feeling “stiff,” prompting Seo to joke, “Not stiff—just firm,” sending the audience into laughter.
In another parody segment, “SeoYeGPT”, Seo played an AI assistant that micromanaged an employee’s every move and thought—a metaphorical nod to the “gaslighting” she was accused of. When the character she guided became dependent on her, he exclaimed, “I can’t live without you now!”, to which the actress responded, “Just follow me from now on, and everything will be fine.”
This darkly humorous line mirrored real-life allegations that Seo had excessive control over her then-boyfriend Kim Jung-hyun’s behavior on set, which the actress later apologized for.
Conclusion
By choosing comedy as a vehicle for confession, Seo Ye-ji has reignited debate on how public figures address their past missteps. While some praised her for facing controversies head-on, others questioned the sincerity of her self-deprecating humor.
All in all, Four years after her controversies first made headlines, Seo Ye-ji has stepped back into the limelight—not with denial, but with deliberate parody and reflection. Whether her bold “SNL Korea” appearance will redeem her in the eyes of the public remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: she’s not pretending anymore.
On the other hand, Seo Ye-ji also recently directly addressed rumors of dating Kim Soo-hyun during the latter’s relationship with Kim Sae-ron and expressed frustrations over malicious speculations.