Song Ha Yoon's Legal Team Speaks Out On School Violence Case

Actor Song Ha Yoon‘s side has issued a statement after the person who raised school violence allegations against her was sent to prosecutors following a supplementary police investigation.

On July 16, Song Ha Yoon’s legal representative, law firm Jieum, said, “The case in which we filed a complaint against classmate A for defamation under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization, obstruction of business, and intimidation — over the school violence allegations A raised — was sent to the prosecution on June 16 following a supplementary investigation by police.”

According to Song Ha Yoon’s side, police had issued a non-referral decision regarding A six months after the complaint was filed, on February 19. At the time, the notice of investigation results reportedly stated a finding to the effect of “no evidence of a crime” or “not a criminal offense.”

Song Ha Yoon’s side then filed an objection to the non-referral decision on March 18. After reviewing the case, prosecutors ordered police to conduct a supplementary investigation on March 23, and police proceeded with that investigation for about three months. Police ultimately reversed their original decision, determined that A’s offense was substantiated, and sent the case to prosecutors with an opinion recommending indictment.

Regarding claims that the process had been distorted, Song Ha Yoon’s side pointed out, “A’s claim of a police finding of no wrongdoing is based only on the notice issued at the time of the February non-referral decision, which came before the supplementary investigation.” They also stressed that the phrase “maintain existing referral decision” recorded in the investigation system meant that “the supplementary investigation upheld the existing ‘referral decision’ — it does not mean the past non-referral judgment was upheld,” asserting that A had distorted the facts.

As for why they had held off on responding publicly, they explained, “We did not want to engage in excessive media response or public opinion battles while the case was under investigation, so we quietly awaited the final decision even after the case was sent to prosecutors on June 16. However, since some media outlets published misreports suggesting a finding of ‘no wrongdoing’ on June 25, spreading distorted information, we were compelled to set the record straight.”

In response, the accused, A, pushed back, calling it a misreport: “This is a matter where police already issued a non-referral decision, and it is simply now being sent back to prosecutors for reconsideration due to Song Ha Yoon’s side’s objection — it is not confirmed that an indictment opinion has been finalized.”

Through her legal representative, Song Ha Yoon said, “I’m sorry to have unintentionally caused so many people worry and concern,” adding, “I have quietly awaited the prosecution’s final decision on this matter, but since inaccurate information came to light again, I had no choice but to correct the minimum facts. I would appreciate it if you could wait just a little longer until the final result comes out.”

Meanwhile, the controversy first arose in April 2024, when A claimed on JTBC’s “Sageonbanjang” that “I was slapped and assaulted by Song Ha Yoon in high school, and Song Ha Yoon was forced to transfer schools after being involved in a group assault case.” Song Ha Yoon’s side has fully denied the allegations and has pursued legal action, filing a criminal complaint against A last July.

Source: (A)