K-pop star apologises for school bullying

A K-POP star has joined a growing list of South Korean celebrities facing a backlash after accusations of bullying fellow pupils at high school.

Hyunjin, 20, of boy band Stray Kids, issued an apology, and his management said he would suspend all activities after allegations by an unnamed former schoolmate that he was verbally abusive when they were teenagers.

JYP Entertainment, his management agency, said: “Hyunjin will take the time to self-reflect after halting all of his activities as a celebrity. He sincerely regrets and is self-reflecting on the fact that he hurt various people in middle school with his rough and unsuitable words.” The statement followed a handwritten apology on Instagram where Hyunjin said he was sorry about “those who were hurt by my improper actions during my school years”.

The past few days have seen a spate of similar allegations against celebrities, although most have denied the claims.

Sports stars have also been forced to face up to accusations of past bad behaviour, which led last month to twin volleyball superstars being removed from the Korean national team.

Online and school bullying have long been a problem in South Korean high schools where students are under huge pressure to succeed in tough exams. Suicide is the most common cause of death among Koreans between the ages of 15 and 24, which researchers believe is connected to the competitive environment and bullying at school.

Noh Yoon-ho, a Seoul-based lawyer specialising in school violence cases, told The Daily Telegraph there had been a rise in claims over bullying since 2012. “Adults have the tendency to ignore it. They just think of it as kids fighting, and the bigger problems come after that.”