Kim Heera Controversy, Production Team Also Complicit for Failing to Verify School Violence Allegations [Focus]

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Kim Heera [Photo by Yonhap News]

The online video service (OTT) Netflix's The Glory gained popularity by depicting the tragic life of Moon Dong-eun, who suffers from severe school violence and runs fueled by revenge. The Glory was completed in 16 episodes, spanning from Season 1 released on December 30 last year to Season 2, which aired this March. The popularity was explosive, and all the cast members received attention evenly.

Actress Kim Hee-ra is a rising star discovered through The Glory. She played the perpetrator Lee Sa-ra, who bullied Song Hye-kyo’s character (Moon Dong-eun) in the drama. Her role was that of someone living without guilt, leading the scenes.

The Glory, which deals with the theme of school violence, was confident in its cast screening. Another cast member, Cha Joo-young, revealed in an interview, "We confirmed whether the actors had any history of school violence before filming." The production team also explained that they tried to reduce related risks through multiple conversations. Casting actors to portray stories where a person's life is completely shaken by school violence was crucial.

However, less than six months after Season 2 ended, allegations of school violence involving a cast member surfaced. Online, the atmosphere is bitter, with comments like "I saw a delinquent playing a delinquent."

'The Glory' stills [Photo by Netflix]

On the 6th, entertainment media Dispatch reported that Kim Hee-ra was a member of the notorious delinquent group "Big Sangji" during her time at Sangji Girls' Middle School in Wonju, Gangwon Province, in 2004. Big Sangji is described as a group infamous in the area for extortion, assault, and verbal abuse.

According to a tip received by the media in May, the victim lamented, "I never thought I would hear the Sangji Girls' Middle School delinquents' curses again in a drama." They claimed that the money extorted through verbal abuse and assault was squandered on entertainment expenses.

Kim Hee-ra was also involved in a classroom theft incident in her third year of middle school. At that time, she received community service and spent two weeks reflecting at places like orphanages or convents.

However, Kim Hee-ra admitted to participating in the delinquent group activities but denied involvement in assaults, explaining that she was a bystander.

Her agency, Grim Entertainment, issued a brief statement that day, saying, "We apologize for causing concern to many people due to this sudden news," and "We are preparing an official position, so we sincerely ask for a little more time." They added, "Once again, we express our sincere apologies."

If the reported details are true?that Kim Hee-ra ordered cigarette errands, committed theft, and frequently engaged in verbal abuse and assault?then there is no difference from the perpetrator’s image in The Glory. If those claims are factual, it clearly constitutes secondary harm to the victims. Although complete verification is practically impossible, voices are rising to hold the production team accountable for failing to properly screen the cast.

[Photo by Yonhap News]

Kim Hee-ra soared with the success of The Glory. Afterwards, she appeared as the evil spirit Gelly in the tvN drama The Uncanny Counter 2. This drama previously stirred controversy as lead actor Jo Byung-gyu had a hiatus due to school violence allegations. The school violence allegations surfaced after the drama ended.

The media reporting the delinquent school violence allegations said, "The investigation ended in June." They explained that Kim Hee-ra’s side requested a three-month delay in reporting to avoid causing trouble for the drama. Nevertheless, the agency recently pushed for Kim Hee-ra’s post-drama interviews. Online reactions criticized this attitude, saying, "The lack of awareness regarding this issue is an even bigger problem."

Another school violence scandal has erupted in the industry. Projects that intended to cast Kim Hee-ra without verification hurriedly cut ties. There is consensus that this is the result of skipping talent verification and blindly casting based on popularity.

OTT Coupang Play, which had cast Kim Hee-ra as a host, canceled the scheduled recording of SNL Korea 4 and announced that episode 9, which was to air on the 9th, would be postponed.

The musical Frida began adjusting schedules for interviews planned on the 18th. Kim Hee-ra was scheduled to perform on the 9th, 10th, 12th, and through October, but now faces significant difficulties.

The production team of The Glory, which raised awareness about school violence, portrayed the perpetrator’s image through Kim Hee-ra, who is now embroiled in school violence allegations. They reached out to her for various projects including dramas, performances, and variety shows. Viewers are asking how long they will continue to say "perfect verification is difficult." There is growing criticism from viewers demanding a stronger cast screening system.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.