Actress Seo Shin Ae’s Cryptic Instagram Story Hints She Is An Alleged Victim Of (G)I-DLE Soojin’s Middle School Bullying

UPDATE: (G)I-DLE’s Soojin has since denied all allegations regarding her school bullying in a personal statement.

Actress Seo Shin Ae, who rose to stardom with her role in High Kick Through The Roof and her character’s iconic nickname “bbanggu ddonggu,” uploaded a cryptic story on Instagram.

The post in question is now thought to be an indirect response to CUBE Entertainment‘s statement denying (G)I-DLE Soojin‘s school bullying allegation. Seo Shin Ae and (G)I-DLE’s Soojin went to the same Waw Middle School in Hwaseong city in Gyeonggi Province, Korea.

Seo Shin Ae fans initially made the connection when the anonymous person who first accused (G)I-DLE’s Soojin of being a school bully briefly mentioned a “Miss Seo” in the allegation. The post read, “You used to bully Miss Seo on the way to school, by screaming and cursing at her every day.” Because the nickname “bbanggu ddonggu” is so iconic, Seo Shin Ae fans immediately assumed the “Miss Seo” in the accusation was the actress.

I remember what our fellow classmate Miss Seo once told me while crying. Everyday, on the way to school, you’d scream behind her. You’d say things like, “Hey you, little b*tch!” and “You bbang– ddong–!” You’d even mock her like, “What are you going to do without any parents?” You also made her get into fights by spreading rumors about her. You kept pressuring her to tailor her skirt shorter, saying that it’s too long.

When she talked about school bullying in an interview, you actually confronted her. I don’t know if you’ll remember, but I was next to her. You brought a group of both male and female friends and kept asking if that is how you treated her. I remember feeling completely baffled by your audacity — because you and your group of friends put her through hell for two years. But it was by far the worst when you later appeared on some TV show later and said with a smile about how you and her went to the same school.

— Excerpt from the alleged victim’s older sister’s exposé.

In fact, back in 2012 — during an interview about her bully role on the show SOS, Seo Shin Ae revealed that she was a victim of school bullying as a middle school student. She emotionally claimed, “The bully called me bbanggu ddonggu and kept mocking my acting career.”

Interviewer: Do you have any personal experience with school bullying?

Seo Shin Ae: Yes, back when I appeared on High Kick, I was bullied about the role. The kids at school made fun of me, calling me by the nickname “bbanggu ddonggu.” They mocked my acting career and poked fun at how I’m a “celebrity.” I was in 6th grade when I appeared on High Kick. The bullying continued into middle school. Because of the role, I got teased about being dirt poor, even though I wasn’t.

Seo Shin Ae’s Instagram story reads, “None of your excuse.” Though the message itself is cryptic, Seo Shin Ae fans believe it is the actress “finally confronting her [alleged] bully.”

Actress Seo Shin Ae has always been praised for her active involvement and promotion of school bullying prevention campaigns. In August 2013, she became the Korean National Police Agency’s “School Bullying Prevention Ambassador.” She also took on several roles in K-Dramas that shed light on bullying problems, such as Solomon’s Perjury and Nalaola (Soar Up).

Seo Shin Ae fans are rallying for the actress.

• “Oh wow. Must have been really hard for Seo Shin Ae.”
• “T-T”
• “Poor Shin Ae, it must have been terrible. I can’t believe a bully can still work in the same entertainment industry as the victim. It makes no sense!”
• “What the… Man. I wonder if the bullying is what made Shin Ae decide to drop out of high school and pursue a GED instead.”
• “How could the bully be this audacious, to keep her head up so high and dare to work in the entertainment industry? Did she think her secrets are safe?”
• “I knew Shin Ae was bullied… but to find out it was by (G)I-DLE’s Soojin? Wow.”

Again, CUBE Entertainment denied (G)I-DLE Soojin’s bullying allegation. The agency is yet to respond specifically to Seo Shin Ae’s Instagram story or the growing belief that Soojin is the said “bully” from Seo Shin Ae’s 2012 interview. Seo Shin Ae’s agency hasn’t responded to the actress’s social media post either.