Kpop's FIRST bullying scandal: The unbelievable story of S

[@ploopy678]

Huge thanks to Rosetta Stone for sponsoring this video: tryrosettastone.com/evangeline-2 Today we will be discussing the forgotten case of S#ARP, KPOP's first (& worst imo) bullying scandal. Why do you think Jiyoung did what she did, and what should companies do to prevent such situations from happening in the future? Let me know your thoughts and opinions! And lastly, I wish all of you a great Christmas! 🎄 Disclaimer: Please don't hate on anyone in this video. It has been 20 years and people can grow and change!

[@nimrah755]

Tysm for putting your time in the video :)

[@KaniniPanini]

If you want to correct the title due to the spelling of unbelievable! Letting you know :3 so much research

[@ploopy678]

@@KaniniPanini thanks for letting me know! I've changed it 😄

[@jisooinyourarea6751]

I love ur videos you’re never biased you just report things

[@kpopscenario1406]

Hiiii

[@oliviaraymond8084]

So thankful to that manager. If he hadn’t stood up just imagine with her money, fame, and power how much Ji Hye would’ve been harassed?

[@ninanano]

I hope nothing bad happened to him

[@kpopscenario1406]

Hiiiii

[@ms_souma3698]

It’s terrifying just imagining it

[@hvnterly8388]

Not just for Ji Hye, Ji Yeong should thank him too. The humiliation and ownership of her actions clearly set her down a better path, one that led to a more mature, healthy Ji Yeong.

[@spiritchi24]

@@hvnterly8388 she's still a crazy b

[@isiaadiel3468]

This is beyond bullying. She was harassed, isolated, gaslit, and humiliated on a public scale and people chose money over the truth, knowing it could ruin her life. She was abused, plain and simple. I wouldn't have forgiven her for all of that, especially since it was sheer luck she was even found out, but it is a testiment to her character that she was able to.

[@panda-panda757]

And yet there's people in the comments trying to put all of the blame on the company. They definitely had a hand in their rivalry, but like you said, she went way WAY above and beyond in her horrible actions

[@butter8552]

she better then me i would’ve still had a grudge on her

[@vinnyla.8025]

@@butter8552 RIGHTT

[@semnome6059]

@@panda-panda757 like, Jiyoung was the one that made the decision to bully Jihye, shes the one with all the guilty

[@quadling3521]

I think saying it’s beyond bullying downplays how bad bullying can be and how bullying is often abuse. Bullying is abuse in a school or work environment. Harassment, isolation, gaslighting and humiliation are all textbook aspects of bullying. What happened to Jihye is bullying.

[@moonlitwarrior513]

The way the manager profited from the bribe and still did what was right. That's peak intelligence my friend.

[@florencembah2626]

Lol...your comment hilarious 🤣

[@zarav731]

I just hope he was safe after that

[@Allenluvable]

Yep. Get the money, but fo what's right. Hilarious.

[@_StrayKidsForever_]

Not necessarily. He not only got money, but got positive online feedback

[@joesama3282]

Getting paid to do the right thing hahaha honestly not everyone can pulled that off. Just like the politicians getting paid to lie and lie, this manager seems to have higher moral than the politicians for most of the world

[@khntou4178]

Can't be understated that the manager basically saved a life here. There's been so many stories of bully victims never getting justice and end up shortly taking their own lives, so this story could have ended very differently, just imagine the state of mind that poor girl was in during that press conference.

[@myouniverse0613]

He's also smart for pretending to take the bribe at first. Jiyoung was so confident he'll back up her story. If he stood his ground earlier who knows what could've happened to him... Rich people are scary..

[@sumayyahadetunmbi4347]

Yeah

[@sumayyahadetunmbi4347]

Yeah

[@nalaaslan9942]

@@myouniverse0613 jihye must be an angel to forgive jiyoung after she not only harassed and abused her for years but tried to end her career by bribing ppl to speak ill of her and make her out to be the abuser, plus i sense great insensitivity in jiyoungs remorse after watching even more parts of their intimate note episode, she shifts a lot of the blame on the other members, her age, the company and staff etc; instead of admitting her fault, plus she was an adult when she started bullying jihye so idk how that can be her ''excuse''... im not saying the company was not at fault but what about individual accountability? it feels like jiyoung never fully admitted her fault and if i was jihye i wouldnt have forgiven, good on jihye for forgiving tho as its the only way to move on, i wish i was that strong

[@corumeach]

That's a rare case of public honourableness. He risked getting fired by the company, even sued by her father. And such families do have alot of connections and influence in South Korea, the can ruin your entire future life at will. Also it shows he has a heart and didn't see it just as "unfortunate work circumstances".

[@hexellent0324]

I understand how someone could forgive their bully, but the fact that she went as far as BRIBING others in order to ruin Jihye's life/career would just be too far for me. Jihye is a better person than I could ever be.

[@askformore9293]

I think its a clear case of a child who always got her way with money, luckily, until she didnt.

[@Andrea-pr7wo]

Forgiving doesn't make you a better person though is just a choice some people are capable of doing and if others just can't. As long as you live your life with integrity you're good enough.

[@ggundercover3681]

@@Andrea-pr7wo for some reason, I had teh initial reaction of saying you're wrong, it's good to forgive even if I know I wouldn't be able to. but then at the end of your statement I realized that the intention of "forgiveness is good and makes you a better person" that society has ingrained in us was of good intent but taken to a seriously dangerous point. because you're right, nothing wrong with not forgiving either. you can still be a good person and not do horrible things, but not forgive someone who wronged you. damn. I personally think that a lot of people forgive others because it's a "selfish" thing and I stand by that. What I mean is, you forgive in order to let the hate go and not have to think about that person anymore because it often just eats the victim up instead of the person who wronged you. heck, sometimes the person who wronged you don't even think they wronged you and never change. I think I would have a hard time fully forgiving someone like this, but I would find some way to let it go as I would just be tormenting myself with constant hate.

[@Andrea-pr7wo]

@@ggundercover3681 exactly what you said about letting it go. If a person has hurt me a lot and never realized their mistakes, never spoke to me or apologize I won't forgive them. However, that doesn't mean I'll always be a victim or I'll be sad, angry and bitter all the time. I can't focus on the past because my happiness is more important so I'll let it go, feelings also die down eventually. Is just that if I happen to se the person again and they try to be friendly or get close to me I prefer not to associate with them.

[@aishwaryaahirrao]

💯

[@DeoxysDNA]

Just the fact that she almost payed off everyone to lie in her favor just goes to show how you can't even trust witnesses in a scandal like this.

[@user-dj4ir6zs6e]

I think this scenario is probable only when the alleged victim is super rich😂

[@silverwolflee6978]

@@user-dj4ir6zs6e Right. Something similar supposedly happened involving Kim Sung-jae's death

[@jayc33day]

you can't even trust koreans*

[@dawnt0pia]

I heard that Jihye just gave birth to her second child! On a serious note, this bullying scandal is one hell of a mess. I hope Jihye is doing well!

[@Danna-ek5hq]

Aww may she and her family be happy

[@shruthakeerthi4559]

Yes, Jihye has 500k subscribers and a lot of engagement !

[@toonash5766]

she had a miscarriage :'(

[@narmeenfathimaburhan2684]

@@toonash5766 that was before ig , she had a baby on Christmas this year

[@jamangel]

@@narmeenfathimaburhan2684 aww Christmas baby

[@atinymoonizen]

Jihye said "Talk shit get hit" 💀😭

[@Daquan2021]

Lmaooo 😂😂😂

[@tionne4716]

I stand by that statement wholeheartedly 😌

[@emotionaldamage9894]

boxed her, and that makes me happy ✌

[@abhinayaramu3566]

Where?

[@atinymoonizen]

@@abhinayaramu3566 i didn't mean literally, I'm sorry😭

[@amandahilliard6642]

I could never associate myself with people who bullied me and literally accuse me of bullying when I was bullied on a national stage in an environment that could have possibly led to a horrible decision. There would be no forgiveness there would be no reunion. Period

[@scarship8250]

Amen

[@scarship8250]

I literally can't understand the ppl that think it's okay to excuse these hell of bullies. If the manager didn't get to jihye side, the girl probably would be in a worst scenario. Maybe even killing herself. They don't deserve anything good from her nor anyone. Especially knowing that Jiyoung is rich and she can do whatever she wants

[@dll7658]

@@scarship8250 As someone else, you need to gain more perspective in this world. People who think like you think they're good but actually also make life more toxic

[@mochabearry]

@@dll7658 No. How dare you even try to say they make life more toxic? You’re ridiculous and delusional. Straight up. Were you a bully and that’s why you think that way?

[@dll7658]

@@mochabearry 😆 Yeah, right. It isn't that people who lack fine judgement and deem actions and people in black and white are toxic, people like me who call them out for it are bullies instead. Hmm interesting, birds of a color flock together like you guys? Is that it? Do you feel better about yourself after virtue signalling how good a person you are? Not worth continuing an exchange with such "good" people like you tho, tbh

[@Callisto_52Hz]

"i was young and immature" my ass. she's just sorry she got caught. imagine if that manager didn't come out with the truth, she would've shed her crocodile tears and made jihye's life hell.

[@yuki97kira]

She definitely doesnt look like 15 in the vids Im tired of that excuse..sure it was 10 years ago, but 10 years ago youre 20

[@mimi-xx3ik]

that was twenty years ago dude

[@vNilleframboise]

@@mimi-xx3ik she was 20 YEARS OLD not 12. she was an adult.

[@mimi-xx3ik]

@@vNilleframboise and? are people not allowed to change and grow?

[@axisboise]

@@mimi-xx3ik Right? It's sad how people are so narrow minded. The two females had made up now and are in good relationship and you see people here holding onto anger to a person that none of them should even hold in the first place. They are worse than the bullies they tried so hard to hate.

[@lalalalaaAa123]

The bystanders are just as guilty as the bully! “She’s so strong for enduring this” SIR what were YOU doing to stop it?

[@scarship8250]

Nothing. Literally nothing. But i guess he was scared to lose his job or being bullied. Anyways that makes him a coward

[@baramelyes3598]

he's after all another coworker. the bully had all the power and money does your logic say anything he'd do would help? blame the bully and her chris instead

[@baramelyes3598]

@@scarship8250 you're literally victimblaming him

[@justdaka3045]

@@baramelyes3598 as a victim of bullying, usually the bystanders hurt you more than the actual bullies because you always have hope they gonna try to defend you but then they just sit there and let the circus burn or worse: they are nice with you by the bullies back but when the bullies come back, they ignore you and just watch. People with that "don't blame the bystanders, just the bullies themselves" are those who make these kinda situation worse because they're normalizing the scenario... I have mental scars until today (12 years after), so NO! The bystanders are also responsible

[@smallandstressed2364]

@@baramelyes3598 - witnessing abuse, but not doing anything whatsoever makes you part of the abuse. There are avenues such as anonymous reporting so you don’t have to put yourself in harm’s way. Seeing it occur, but doing absolutely nothing to directly or indirectly try and stop it is facilitating that behavior.

[@Iexapro]

I know violence is wrong but Jiyoung should be happy all Jihye did was smack her a few times cause I would’ve done way worse. Bullying someone for that long is unforgivable I can’t imagine the loneliness Jihye felt.

[@michalovesanime]

Her snapping is totally understandable.. Emotional abuse for such a long time can be just as impactful as physical assault..those wounds often never heal, in comparison to a black eye for example

[@justdont5494]

I don’t think violence should ever be the answer but some people really don’t respond to anything else. the only issue is that it’s really only people who are so narcissistic like jiyoung was at the time that will drive people to snap and they’re also always the type to not even consider whether or not they deserved it. I’m not saying that being annoying warrants someone pummeling you but some ppl have never faced immediate consequences for their actions and it really shows.

[@Makasituation]

I was honestly cheering for Jihye when when I heard she boxed her lol

[@sumayyahadetunmbi4347]

Fr

[@dimplesinyou3433]

Can you imagine dancing and singing alone just coz your group members made you live in hell

[@kidalola9201]

We need more people like that manager...I DON'T wanna imagine what could have happened if he wouldn't stepped up and throw that bully under the bus. 😕

[@renflower1910]

For real

[@zahara5472]

Honestly so much respect and props to him!

[@floralfancy7814]

That man is a saviour. My dad always told me that some of the greatest heroes aren't the ones written about in books and world famous.

[@keepyoureyeswideopen]

"top 10 anime betrayals" lmao seriously tho i'm glad that manager had a strong sense of morality

[@deltasaves]

That is what saved jihye. Had the manager decided that money was the most important, it would have been a much different story manipulated by a spoiled brat who couldn't imagine how she wasn't the best at something, when in reality she never was and only paid to get where she was. Jiyoung is lucky Jihye forgave her and would put it behind.

[@adeenahasan8815]

There's always a way for truth to be uncovered and just when jiyoung thought she could frame ji hye for bullying while being the bully herself the manager came out with the truth. Lies will always always be found out you can't hide them forever!

[@_StrayKidsForever_]

I mean he got money and positive feedback

[@infires3088]

Gotta admit jiyoung's acting skills are so good she should have tried in kdramas instead of kpop 💀

[@NoName-dx1no]

Aren’t actors seen as higher than idols in the entertainment industry too? She really should’ve done that but I would pity the other actors and staff that would have to interact with her with that behavior of hers 💀

[@infires3088]

@@NoName-dx1no I think she thought she was a great singer or maybe she wanted to be a icon for youngsters

[@HQR000]

She did lol, she was in "I'm sorry i love you" back in 2004? 2005?

[@infires3088]

@@HQR000 she should have done that in first place we won't have witnessed extreme torture of a innocent and hard working person

[@camilasegura8826]

she did actually, i was surprised to see her as a side character in so jisub's drama, i was so disgusted by her i ended skipping all of her scenes

[@atinymoonizen]

That manager is a real one. What a G for exposing the truth even tho everyone else was paid off and gonna lie

[@zahara5472]

Frr

[@cravityandluvity7577]

Ikr

[@cravityandluvity7577]

@@zahara5472 I love your pfp of Ren from Nu'est

[@fawn4rina]

the way justice was served in this situation is fucking BEAUTIFUL. jiyoung bribing her manager to tell a story that wasn't true & confidently handing over that mic just for him to tell the truth is AMAZING.

[@Aniwalker2006]

I was thinking the same thing like it was so beautifully done. Like you can tell he knew from the beginning that he was gonna tell the truth. He is really save Jihye cause lord knows what Jihye's mind was like during this time. I'm happy she's doing well now though

[@ninanano]

25:06 she wasn’t in panic, she was pissed off he exposed her and looked at someone as if asking them to make him stop. Rolled her eyes and walked off pissed off. Like a damn spoiled brat

[@jenniekimscat7122]

How could u see her rolling her eyes they were literally 2 pixels😂

[@DarkAnon100]

@@jenniekimscat7122 they were two very expressive pixels 😂

[@nj-bu6ux]

Exactly

[@nj-bu6ux]

@@jenniekimscat7122 are you fucking blind

[@minahjeon94]

Missgurl try to look for her 'light tap' mama 😂

[@gustavomachado8226]

This story is kind of surreal... the level of harrasment, the plot twist... I'm glad the girls and group got to reconcile. Great video!

[@scarship8250]

Sorry but i would never reconcile with someone that abused me like that. She don't deserve it

[@sumayyahadetunmbi4347]

@@scarship8250 Me too. I would never

[@kafjaf6387]

@@scarship8250 she deserves some form of legal action not reconciliation

[@dll7658]

Lol yeah. Quite delish, honestly

[@dimplesinyou3433]

It just sounds like a kdrama

[@misoasoda340]

This is why…I can’t stand children who are born with a silver spoon in their mouth (in cases like these). Their parents and literally everyone around them, no matter the age difference, will treat them like their a godly figure who could do no wrong. The group should’ve disbanded sooner. They allowed this to happen to Ji-hye but once something happened to poor old Ji-young the press came. She was literally a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Even her lil “friend” who “tried to stay neutral” wasn’t shit. I don’t even care that I forgot his name 😭 If you seriously think that you’re being a good person by staying “neutral” all whilst witnessing an innocent person be harassed for months on end…you’re not a good person at all. You’re just as bad as the bully. He never stood up for her in any way. He just cared about keeping his job and look where that got him lmao Ji-Hyes manager was a blessing. I hope he’s eating good and both sides of his pillows were cold that day.

[@Mikoeditsfr]

For real, you woke up and decided to spit nothing but facts. Have a good day

[@NovalieSweet]

Exactly, natural my ass...boy please. You're just weak, this poor girl was being bullied for YEARS and people just stood there and did Nothing. How can you live with yourself? Like how can you sit back and let someone be abused😑 disgusting

[@bhpbp]

Why cold pillow though😭

[@bisheen]

@@bhpbp a nice cold pillow on a hot summer day, how does that sound?

[@bhpbp]

@@bisheen ohh I see yeah that would feel so good

[@AnimeLoveLover123]

Young: "I hate this woman, I don't even want to be on the same stage as her!" Staff: "Okay, then we will put her on a different stage." Young: "She’s getting her own stage!? How dare she! She is so selfish."

[@xoALSox]

Ji Young is literally like a kdrama villain. It seems surreal how evil she was

[@sarabrenton6364]

I know Jiyoung personally. There’s no excuse for how she acted, but she’s actually a really nice person now.

[@nj-bu6ux]

@@sarabrenton6364 how?????

[@sarabrenton6364]

@@nj-bu6ux I’m her youngest kid’s teacher

[@rue.eudoxie]

@@sarabrenton6364 Girl what

[@cravityandluvity7577]

@@sarabrenton6364 I don't think you know her personally

[@hyunrahan5265]

Kudos to the manager for being the only one to speak out. He could have loss job in the industry with how much power jiyoung had. The bullying and all is just messy. They forgot they need each other. 🙄 if you’re that great of a singer you would have gone solo but you can’t sing bruh so just be thankful you have a member that could do the singing for you while you support the group with money.

[@ys8492]

Jihye really has a big heart for forgiving jiyoung. I could never forgive the people who bullied me for the rest of my life. The pain will never heal.

[@Vor567tez]

So glad that the manager choosed to expose her despite being in a tough position. Poor Jihye she had to endure so much. Glad she finally got a good solo career. The company cared about the money and didn't want to face the wrath of rich spoiled kid.

[@procastination_is_my_passi4182]

Shout out to the manager. You can feel the animosity in his voice when he was when finally spilling the truth. I imagine he had to keep the truth hidden for so long for the sake of his job or the group. And I'm sure he knew the risk of being black listed after going against her due to jiyoung's social and financial influence. Yet he still did the right thing. I hope he and ji Hye are doing well

[@oqeufh]

Props to the manager for being truthful and not going against his morals for a bit of cash. He really is the hero without cape here.

[@繁栄恵]

Wow. That was scary. A rich, spoiled brat who calls her victim eonni but behind closed doors abused her severely. I wouldn't be able to come back to the entertainment industry after everything she did if I were her. Also, being young and immature isn't an excuse to make someone break down that way. She's just disrespectful and narcissistic. That's it. Jihye was just the bigger person here for being able to forgive her bully after everything she's been through

[@florencembah2626]

Exactly that apology seem like such a fake😒🤦.... I'll advice the other girl to stay very far away from the rich one cause at the first chance she gets she stab her.

[@pinkykamara3665]

Young my ass she's just looking for a way to make her self seem less guilty 20 years old is anything but young she knew exactly what she was doing she thought because she was Rich she would get away with it

[@ChxrrySnow520]

why even hating someone who's scandal was like 20 years ago 😂

[@floralfancy7814]

I think this kind of stuff is more common and normalised people think.

[@justdb4]

I blame the company for encouraging this and for putting these girls against each other from the beginning. I am glad Jiyoung apologized to Jihye for all that she did and the members are able to have reunions and still contact one another.

[@jennierubyjane4133]

Nah I still blame jiyoung as well. Doesn't excuse her behaviour 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@justdb4]

@@jennierubyjane4133 I am I'm not excluding her, since what she did and how she tried to lie about it at a press conference is still bad and very abusive, but I will still blame the company more for enabling this behavior and just shrugging this matter off as if nothing happened.

[@jennierubyjane4133]

@@justdb4 I blame both the company and her. I'm not blaming the company more especially when it was jiyoung and the other members who choose to bully. They all seem like the type to only take accountability when confronted or caught. Which is very ugly and scary.

[@hotsexyangel]

@@jennierubyjane4133 definitely. The company encouraged it but Jiyoung still started it and made the decision to be a bully on her own.

[@semnome6059]

Blame Jiyoung, shes the bish who made de decision to bully Jihye

[@KatBlaque]

SO SHE SNAPPED... AND BEAT HER UP. lol. Wow.

[@mimi-xx3ik]

not funny. violence is never the answer

[@anti8643]

@@mimi-xx3ik violence is always the answer when you’ve been bullied and harassed by someone for years

[@tiffanykim2773]

@@mimi-xx3ik Nah it's funny 🤣

[@kiera1232]

deserved

[@kiera1232]

@@anti8643 nahhh that girl was harassed and bullied

[@butterflycorpse8704]

In better news, Miss Jihye just had her second child, a little girl, a few days ago (Christmas Eve, actually). I know this was 20 years ago but it's still so sad to see. I hope both women (especially Miss Ji-young) learned a good lesson and grew up well after this.

[@nj-bu6ux]

Miss is for single women.....

[@diva80]

Bullies never grow up

[@jahodyjsoucervene668]

@@nj-bu6ux its for unmarried women

[@marishkaspirit]

Mrs Ji- Young îs married since 2011 și îs not right to use therm miss in her

[@marishkaspirit]

​@@jahodyjsoucervene668ji-young îs married since 2011 tho

[@sydney9000]

I'm so happy that everything was resolved in the end :) I feel so bad for Ji Hye though, and I hope she's doing well

[@Jolina0821]

She is doing well. Well, as or now they patch up. They choose forgiveness and now close friend.

[@jeanneann3545]

@@Jolina0821 i cant believe she forgave them all. Theyre trying their hardest to kick her rock bottom, ruining her reputation and her whole life for jealousy. As for other members, a little bit of money make them very willing to sacrifice a fellow friend to the gutter. Its not the matter of forgiveness , theyre beyond disgusting.

[@Jolina0821]

@@jeanneann3545 lee ji hye is known for being kind. She became the bigger person here. I understand her as I was bullied too and I know how painful and it wrecking you piece by piece. Still they patch up years before and admitted being so imature.

[@kimchithatisnicelyfermente4627]

Ji Hye is doing really well. She has just gaved birth to her second child.

[@emotionaldamage9894]

@@Jolina0821 i think Ji-hye thought it's no use of keeping things within her as it's gonna be a burden for her only, it will ruin her mental peace in long run, she has to be a bigger person here, she has to choose whether to dwell and keep all the pain or just leave all these behind to live a normal happy life, she did good for herself, as it's not easy to forgive your bully but she's the kind one and has a heart of survivor, me on other hand will never forgive my bullies even if it makes me a bitter person inside, i can't do that, it's not possible so i can see how great Jihye is.

[@WanLynn]

Haha im sorry, Jiyoung’s mom coming to beat Jihye because “she’s a mother that wants to protect her child” ?? Even if it’s justified, it was a very selfish act. Mfs knew they have the power to just barge into the tv station like that and can get away with physical assault bcs they’re rich af. Jiyoung is alrdy an adult too, so having her mom coming to ‘defend’ her is just 🤢🤢

[@rosevlogs6948]

Exactly, at least we know where jiyoung got her immaturity from-

[@yuki97kira]

It wasnt even justified...the only time its acceptable if she was(the victim in this case) the one starting it

[@jahodyjsoucervene668]

Her mum probably didnt know that her daughter was a bully and thought that jihye just beat her up for no reason

[@damgedroses]

I think it is also important to rememeber that the times were different and some things were easy to hide or at least control from the public. The manager did a risky move but I think he also knew what he was doing. What she did and what the others did is wrong, hopefully they all learned and matured.

[@dll7658]

Yeah, he seemes so satisfied in that moment, really. Lol

[@x0xMARMARx0x]

I’m disheartened by all the bystanders who largely outnumbered the active participants in the bullying and mistreatment. Jihye is definitely a better and bigger person than me. I would have avoided the former members like the plague lol. And what do they have to show for it? They tainted the most momentous time of their lives. I’m glad she got to continue her dream career as a singer and performer after experiencing all of that. A worthy reward for her graciousness.

[@kuronekochan1619]

I remember hearing about this case and was able to learn more about it through this video. This basically sounds like a rich girl who wanted to be a pop star but obviously didn’t go the way she wanted it to. I do wonder what it would’ve been like if Jiyoung was the main vocalist and everyone else was in background or if the group was actually formed with her group of friends. Maybe there wouldn’t be any bullying or it would’ve not been this bad? I understand the company has a lot to do with this as well but I feel like her jealousy got in the way rather than handling everything professionally.

[@nikkisumesh]

Kagura

[@HarunaMaurer]

she has this diva aura, so even if she ended up being the main vocal, i'm sure that if someone didn't follow her instructions she would do the same. and i'm sure the moment she would get tired of being a pop star she would have ditched all her group members

[@kuronekochan1619]

@@HarunaMaurer Yeah, that's what I thought. She's basically the type of person who torments those who she doesn't like or do what she says

[@yuki97kira]

Honestly, since her skills werent on par for the producer, maybe it wont even last long

[@opeia7690]

The fact that Ploopy mentioned how most of the articles were in Korean and there was no internet back at the time then eloquently explaining all the details really comes to show how much effort she puts in her videos, thanks again Ploopy! :)) I hope Jihye is doing better now and the manager did a great job stating the truth, nobody knows what would happen to her if he didn't.

[@shruthakeerthi4559]

Jihye is doing miles better than the snake! She has a KZbin channel with 500k subscribers, is a regular on TV shows, is happily married, just recently gave birth to her second baby.

[@palomin]

Lets not ignore that everyone in that company, the bystanders and specially the other members also had fault in this, it was a different time but the fact that they did nothing and that Chris and Seok Hyun also bullyiend Jihye is outrageous, imagine they got away with it

[@PND-ye3hq]

I discovered S#arp recently and was wondering what this whole scandal was about. THANK YOU for doing research and explaining what happened.

[@chewycrossing]

Yeah same, yesterday I was watching a kookielit video about kpop bullying scandals, and one of them was about S#arp and to be honest it’s a really intriguing case

[@elmin82]

the sad thing is that the company pratically ignored those situations

[@ghinaidriss3428]

She let her jealousy take over her she shouldn’t be so aggressive to jihye for having more lines or take her position after all she didn’t make her self the main vocalist or get her self lines it wad given to her by the producer,bullying is the worst thing ever all of the bullying cases these years were really a lot especially the jimin and Mina scandal with people being confused in who is the lier and who is the victim but we don’t know who’s lying in this case after all this did happen over 20 years ago and people change and grow up I am sure jiyoung felt sorry for what she did and that she regretted letting her jealousy take over her I am just glad jiyoung has apologized to jihye personally and that they aren’t rivals now and they might be friends

[@scarship8250]

Sorry but it's dumb af to apologize after all she did. She doesn't deserve nothing good

[@ghinaidriss3428]

@@scarship8250 what she did was very wrong and I completely disagree with her ways but it’s up to jihye after all to forgive her or not

[@oceana311]

we literally do know who’s lying in this case it literally was in the story and it’s in articles today in korean

[@thursdayscat]

Jihye has a very big heart, forgive jiyoung is a thing, but befriends her again after what happened? I could never

[@yummyki]

That manager is a KING. So thankful for the good people in this world. That woman received justice. So glad things turned out well for everyone in the end too. The results of bullying is no joke. Thank you for the informative video~ 💛

[@kkoyuhh]

i cant help but think of what could’ve happened if their manager didn’t come out with the truth. i hope jihye is happy & healthy, along with her manager. he saved her life basically, who knows what jihye could’ve done if she’d continued to be harassed. the others were completely fooled by money, it’s honestly sad. i know jihye is forever grateful for what her manager had done.

[@CAS11236]

she is obviously a narcissist who felt threatened. So much corruption. I'm so grateful for the manager. Jihye was in serious danger and he was simply a good, honest man who stood up for her

[@kpopandotherthings6853]

I saw the bouquet and was like, “OH NO SHE DIDN’T…”

[@pinkpanda340]

I was in a similar experience like Jihye’s so I know how it felt like. It wasn’t as bad as her experience but it was in a group of friend. Was in a school trip and I had to be alone. Wandering off alone, sitting on a bus alone, and crying myself to sleep in a hotel room. I was eating in a table with them and they would just all get up and leave and made plans in front of me. And during the trip where we can wander around the area, I was alone and they pretended that I was a stranger in a public while they laugh. It was very hurtful experience for me. I already graduated high school but whenever I think about those moments, I’d always cry my heart out.

[@ladansemakabre]

i'm so sorry this happened to you god people and "friends" can be so awful...

[@syifahusnulkhotimah5788]

i'm so sorry to hear that. you've done very well. anyway, i've been in a similar experience as you. just remember that there's a lot more of people who need you.

[@mavisary.8503]

Hugs 😭❤️

[@florencembah2626]

I'm so sorry, try not to think of it, it'll only hurt instead think & focus on all the wonderful people you met or have around you.

[@irondragonmaiden]

I don't feel any sympathy for the production. I feel for individual employees who didn't have any authority over the group like the people who had to photoshop Jihye into the group photo, but for management? You outright turned them into rivals and then are shocked that it turned nasty? I'm not saying that Seo Jiyoung wasn't responsible for herself, she was a spoiled brat, but the company was also at fault for creating such an atmosphere where this was the logical conclusion to a girl who had enough money and connections to fund her own band and producers so she can be the star. Hell, what was that first producer thinking, setting up auditions on his own initiative? You know that the main vocalist has the money to fund the band, all you are doing is setting the new vocalist up for failure and/or misery with this stunt.

[@ionoobloo]

Yeah, he could've just produced songs with lower pitches that suited the members that he had to work with.

[@ThemedNumber02]

I know people learn and grow from the mistakes they made at a younger age, but when the actions you’ve made are so cruel and long lasting it’s so difficult to not have that scar your future. I’m glad that Jihye was strong enough to find the peace within herself to forgive Jiyoung. However, in this case I believe that Jiyoung doesn’t deserve a place in the entertainment industry. The actions she made were inhuman, she should live a quiet life or pursue a different career away from the spotlight.

[@iopy6622]

Right? I don't get how jiyoung was able to pursue her career after the scandal. If the manager didn't spoke up, i bet jihye would have been canceled (even though she is the victim). But then again, I heard that these "families of politicians" are huge and extremly powerful...

[@karenr.8929]

More managers like Him!! Saying in front of her "she is lying, jihye is the real victim. Jihye was abused by her" wow.. Amazing!

[@katie5920]

He should have stepped in way before it even came to that though.

[@DaeguYunie]

@@katie5920 - he probably couldn’t because that would put his job in jeopardy and he knew that the company wouldn’t listen. The manager saw the opportunity at the press conference and took it, knowing that there were people who were there who would actually listen to what he’s saying and because there’s so many witnesses there Jiyoung wouldn’t be able to cover up what he said.

[@hoseokismyhope3351]

Jihye has a big heart. She forgave Jiyoung, is willing to spend time with her + the other s#arp members. it also seems she could forgive chris and seokhyun for ganging up against her. she really was the bigger person and the bigger heart in the end. i hope she's doing well these days. after seeing that press conference, it felt good to see jiyoung publicly admit she was in the wrong. that takes courage as well

[@salbenrosli707]

She reappeared with one of her members for a comeback

[@youniverse6841]

Poor Jihye. She endured a lot. I'm glad the truth finally got out. Thank goodness that manager had the heart to expose the truth and not be bribed. Jihye is definitely a great person to forgive someone like that.

[@seokayn]

The fact that that one irrelevent member did nothing to stop it yet had the audacity to say she is strong is such a cop out

[@donathomas6450]

that manager was wise and fooled jiyoung he is great for telling the truth he is a form of angel we need people like him in the industry

[@katie5920]

Nah, he could have stopped it long before and he didn't. He was probably debating to tell the truth or not because he has some fault too. Maybe he felt guilty or was afraid they'd get found out if he lied and he'd be taken down with them. Or perhaps he figured if he ratted them out he'd be seen as a good guy and be talked about a lot and it could help his career.

[@donathomas6450]

@@katie5920 he didn't tell anyone because maybe because he wanted to show what as snake jiyoung was by reveling it in front of the media with an unexpected turn

[@barleyteaa]

I don’t see how backlash, even physical, is wrong where someone else has already used extreme hostility and social violence to harm their victim.

[@florencembah2626]

Exactly that called "reactive abuse" & she still called to apologize when she was the victim, that just makes me so mad & sad

[@felmargego2534]

anyone has the right to retaliate against their tormentors tbh.

[@yyg4632]

The manager is a HERO. Nothing more. Its so easy to lie, get your money and keep your job. He quite literally may have saved Jihye's life there.

[@CRaXII]

Bro, if the Jiyoung could do this, imagine the power behind her. The grandfather, the uncle, the mother. They're all corrupted and evil

[@priscillakang1]

Ttyt

[@leahquispe4569]

That's SK

[@alekzand]

So it was wrong to hit a bully who sang 'unlucky bitch' to my face, after years of enduring bullying from the same person? Nope, for someone who has been bullied I think it was perfectly justified. Sorry but not sorry about it.

[@florencembah2626]

Love your comment, if she never retaliated, the bully would have probably never end or end in her taking her life

[@hysteri]

@@florencembah2626 exactly. That *justified* assault was what got that witch exposed. Thanks to the manager especially.

[@felmargego2534]

same tho.

[@dazaidazaii]

if she never stood up for herself s#arp would probably still be operating and this scandal wouldve still been on going

[@Pain-yx1ri]

I have so much respect for that manager! There are some good people in this world!

[@kafjaf6387]

I'm interested to know why Jihye didn't take legal action - the other three bahaved appallingly and she must have suffered a great deal. The money/bribery, inorder to besmirch her character, sucked and could have ruined her life. In addition, I can't understand for one minute why Jihye would spend any time with them subsequently.

[@ourloveisgreat1398]

tbf jihye would've most likely lost; especially bc the ppl she's taking action against are powerful.

[@kafjaf6387]

@@ourloveisgreat1398 aahh, I see - well that makes sense.

[@noohoh8842]

Just realised "My lips like warm coffe" was covered by many groups. Joy sang this song at gayo daejung yesterday haha

[@lemon9905]

S#arp was very popular. Besides this song, "Sweety" was everywhere.

[@my_short_food_stories]

Salute to the manager.... yes manager are who always with idols 24hrs and know more and care about them but stepping up like this under the pressure of company without bribe case are very rare....respect for this man in my heart 📈 And also to add jihye has big heart...she forgave jiyong and others..not many can do this after those horrible incidents

[@reyanime]

The moment you said she came from a priveleged background I knew right away she was the bully. Clearly a spoiled brat who never would have debuted without her connections.

[@i_aint_gonna_cry4u187]

Okay I need to stop you right there Not all people who come from a silver spoon are bullies man…just that her parents did a shit job…and if I were jihong parent I would be embarrassed and probably apologise rather than go hit the girl like what…I mean her mom is no better than her daughter… but we’ve to blame the company as well…they contributed a lot to this and did nothing…

[@NoName-dx1no]

When rich people are bullies it’s scarier because they have all the power, but I have heard of an actor who was an idol being left out or bullied in his trainee days because of his rich background, like the other trainees apparently thought he was given favoritism so yeah 💀

[@AsheztoAshez]

Great video! I knew a little about S#arp's controversy but I wasn't aware of the details. That's crazy how they all did poor Jihye. I won't lie, I probably wouldn't have spoke to any of them again, but if it helped her moved forward, good for her. I'm glad she had success after dealing with the team.

[@popular12345-p]

We need more people like the manager, he’s stating facts.

[@gracemeows]

Jihye has such a big heart to forgive and accept back the 3 other members who made her life hell. I also admire her resilience and being strong in spite of the bullying that she did not ever resort to self-harm or suicide.

[@rae3408]

yeah what ji young did was wrong, but the company and producers are at fault too. the company for not stepping in and for the producers for causing jiyoung's grudge. literally they could've stopped it but turned a blind eye.

[@devoutmisanthrope5687]

Agreed, they definitely deserve some of the blame as well. Those lazy producers did wrong and should have apologized to both Jiyoung and Jihye, even though Jiyoung is still by far the most awful person in this situation.

[@cuearesty]

Evil truly happens when people just let things happen. It's truly insidious how abusers benefited on the bystander effect. The real messed up thing here is that if JiHye 'left' or was just permanently ruined, none of their reputations would've been able to recuperate neither. It was in JiHye's forgiveness that JiYoung or the other S#arp members aren't banned from appearing on TV or something.

[@chroniclesofalivingdeadgirl]

I could never be friends with anyone who bullied me. Her reasoning about being young and immature is not a valid reason to bully anyone. If anyone is capable of doing that, that person is NOT a good person. People don't change. A person may have the ability to restrain themselves as they "mature". But change? Never.

[@soulsearcher7077]

I don’t agree. People can change. I was bullied for 11 of my 13 years in school. I was a bully myself for 1 semester (in the first grade). I don’t appreciate the people who have bullied me and I don’t forgive some of them but I know that some of them have changed. One person and I did end up becoming friends. I’ve had friends who became bystanders, friends who were bullied alongside me and friends who allied themselves with bullies as well. People are complicated as hell and a lot of things factor into how we behave. Especially as children, our environments have a great influence on us. I do think that people who bully others consistently and especially long-term have some serious maybe unchangable personality issues. But I also think a lot of people just fck up and are at the worst version of themselves when they become bullies.

[@chroniclesofalivingdeadgirl]

@@soulsearcher7077 well, it will be great if that's always the case isn't it? There are no stakes anymore hence its unnecessary to bully as people get older. They'll just develop other ways to torment people. These so called "former bullies" will likely bully again in another way when they encounter inconveniences.

[@enhypenlvr7]

Same for me. My bullies still didn’t change and years have already passed. Idc what excuses bullies use, they still did it and should receive their own karma. Some people are gonna change and some people don’t

[@jeanneann3545]

@@soulsearcher7077 i strongly disagreed. They might change because theyre older, but deep inside, theyre just the same. A saint like wont suddenly become a corrupted person, theyre always corrupt inside.

[@babyfaceweeb8937]

@@chroniclesofalivingdeadgirl so you've never done anything you regret doing when you were younger? You don't cringe or scold yourself for things you did when you were younger? If not that means YOU haven't changed.

[@jaehwan123]

Thanks for doing the research on this. It was quite interesting. I was a big fan of S#arp back in the day. Jiyoung was definitely the more popular of the two back then, but nobody knew what was going on. Hope everyone eventually found peace.

[@ionoobloo]

That manager is a hero! A good guy with a conscience, it's terrible that all the other people there just threw away their morals for the sake of money. All those bystanders in the company that witnessed all of it and just blatantly lie...disgusting.

[@emm4746]

Clearly jiyoung was so jealous of jihye that's why she felt like jihye took the spotlight from her... its a really sad story but it's good that jihye is doing well now

[@Victoria68213]

This is legit terrifying.. to think what would have happened if the truth were not revealed and how jihye mental health could have plummeted to a point where she would not be with us no more. F*ck all of them who did her dirty I hope karma comes their way

[@kaizersama]

The way Jihye explained her side of the story though unlike Jiyoung... I feel so sad watching this, Jihye shouldn't have gone through this, also I'm touched when the manager told the truth.

[@NoctLightCloud]

how does this have such a happy ending? My heart actually felt at peace when I saw the reunion photos

[@palomin]

I give Jihye so much credit because I don't think I could forgive my bully and abuser like she did with everything she went through, she truly is the bigger person, and so strong for going through all that and still havinh a successful career in the industry

[@HopeeInk]

I really expected a more sinister end to their story. Guess it’s something good that they reconciled.

[@kazuhasgloves]

I'm glad to hear that the manager did what he did.

[@qsxsqsxs]

I'm glad they're friends now! That's so nice. Great video! Thank you :)

[@loyalseniorexo-l8970]

I only know Jihye because I watch her a lot in kshows and she seems so nice but I don’t know that she going through this things until I watch confession from her regarding this bullying in 1 show. Poor her. She so strong and still keep smiling and still active in this industry even after what happen. For me, this is so painful and I’ll try to avoid this industry. Seokhyun is right only her can endure it. She endure for that group. And she have a big heart too

[@red_light_3937]

The power of a good manager was really shown here. And let me say; N-O that manager was $***. A truly good manager would never let this happen in the first place. That's why there's so much pressure on them from company & group members. But it's also so critical they do their job & think righteously otherwise they can ruin a life. I'm giving the credit where the credit is due to that manger, but this seriously should've never happened in the first place, and there's a few things even against such a big chaebol that he could've done to stop it from getting that far.

[@DaeguYunie]

It’s not like we know him personally and we have no way of knowing how much of Jihye’s abuse he really saw in a given day. Besides, he can’t be with Jiyoung and Jihye _all_ the time, so who knows? Jiyoung could’ve been getting away with stuff all the time behind his back. Waiting for the proper time to expose her in front of the press seemed like a good course of action to make sure that he’s actually heard.

[@crystal-hd4ui]

He wasn’t a good manager

[@user-ue9pj8is9n]

I'd still give him credits. It's hard to go against people who have big influence. Based on what has been said in this video, I think the bully girl had some of that. Hope the guy was okay after exposing her like that right in front of her. Lol but actually the only valid credits are the ones that come from the victim herself.

[@HarunaMaurer]

i love the manager, i'm so happy for what he did and how he did it.

[@fagggggia]

Your level of research and journalism is meticulous. I enjoyed every part of your video! Subscribed.

[@777mj]

If I was Jihye I would've not accepted the apology. If I were to be abused, humiliated, and all that FOR YEARS and literally a few years later you're trying to apologize to me I would simply not accept it. She bribed people to lie to make me feel like the bad one when she is meaning SHE KNEW what she did was wrong too...

[@ran7012]

Bro jihye is so strong I would’ve literally just punched the shit out of Jiyoung and Chris until they lost all ability to do what their career.

[@emotionaldamage9894]

bro same

[@sstephhh_h]

Hell yeah

[@Idktoo5700]

Thanks for covering this. You’re a great KZbinr who can actually explain things in perfect detail, and shed light on situations like these. I love your videos, I have been subscribed for a long time, and I don’t regret it one bit ❤️ Please keep going, I’ll always support you.

[@reethegirl7822]

Imagine in 2002, how much of a scary thing it was to stand up in front of power and tell the truth to the media. The manager basically saved a life back then.

[@kwatson573]

I been listening to their song my lips like warm coffee a lot recently, and to think that all this was happening,wow There is a scandal for 2nd gen and 3rd gen so I’m shocked that this one isn’t more known I’m happy that it seems like things ended well for the members, but god that company really caused conflict between their own group, damaging the reputation of its members and causing pain to them , all because they were greedy and wanting to make money.

[@6eed]

W manager 24:19 dude accepted the bribe and still told the truth lol

[@roseblue_]

These are not Chrysanthemums. They're too small for that. They look like white Carnations, that smell amazing. And there are other colors there (purple & green), so there is no funeral connections, because only white chrysanthemums are used in a funeral. There was some image manipulation on that photo (creative crop & erasing the purple flowers), plus it was turned into 240p on purpose, to be fuzzy. This doesn't change the fact that she was a bully and acted badly. On the other hand, even hard core criminals are allowed to make amends, apologize and rehabilitate. Because it's also beneficial for the victim, to move on with their lives. Denying that chance, by creating sensation to sell copies, is also evil and immoral, and denies that chance. I can visualize the Editor ordering a "small touch up" to the original image. I bet, they sold many many copies in their career, crying wolf.

[@XuiLeeEv]

Thanks for highlighting this! The only negative connotation carnations have in the US is that they're cheap haha.

[@nihilism1652]

I know you said that the members have grown and learned since this happened but since this is the first time I’m hearing about it I can’t help but feel such anger and hatred towards them. Bullying amongst members of a group whether it’s K-pop or even in school, it’s always so convoluted for so many reasons. The perpetrators are always very young and thus immature. Now that I’m 24 I look back to being even 19 as a childish age, I can only imagine how stunted emotional growth might be for idols because of their training and all that. Then there’s also the fact that Ji Young grew up with a massive silver spoon and that’s also quite difficult to unlearn. Then for the guy who was peer pressured into the bullying, Jang Seok something? It’s so gross to think about but in retrospect a lot of kids get pressured into a lot of things that they hate or are against, and the fact that Ji Young was funding everything and was from a politically powerful family is also a very big factor to his compliance I can imagine. The Chris dude I find particularly sick. Watching the video of him spewing lies was just so nauseating to watch. He’s American, and Americans are culturally more vocal about things than Koreans or Asians in general, who indulge in a lot of propriety and manners (I’m Asian). I don’t mean to generalize Americans but in a setting like Korea, idols like Tiffany, Jay Park and BM come off as very different from their Korean teammates and that’s a perfectly good thing. Chris should’ve known better. At least he could’ve had the decency to seem remorseful. However this is an assumption because we don’t fully know what was going on behind the scenes. However, despite everything I just pointed out, where the problem of bullying turns concrete is the fact that the victim is traumatized for life. The perpetrators and unwilling participants and accomplices may be young and immature but that’s not an excuse to ruin someone’s life and it never will be. The victim is also young and immature. But at the age of 15 onwards I’m sure normal people know the gravity of being an asshole to someone. This entire thing is just so sick. Unlike with the subsequent groups where the bullying news turned out to be the other way around (Tara and more recently Mina and Aoa), this is just unadulterated abuse towards a single girl. Terrifying honestly. The way power corrupts. Thank God for the manager honestly. It’s so funny to me that he accepted the bribe money and told the truth anyway, it’s like a double f you to Ji Young at the time. Thank God that unlike the ceo and other staff, he actually had a soul. Every time I saw the ceos face I wanted to punch it ugh. Anyway I’m glad the girls have patched things up. Even though Ji Hye had every reason and right to not forgive them. Twenty years is a long time to be publicly disgraced.

[@riconguyenofficial8947]

11:12 It’s not like the company forced them to compete, rapping always is just a little spice in K-Pop idol songs. The singing is the main ingredient for a K-Pop idol song. That’s why the rappers got little lines compare to the singing lines. This is still a thing until now.

[@CourtneyMaria2]

I’m so glad they all worked out what happened, in my opinion it shows how much they all have grown from when they were in S#ARP. It’s really sad that this happened, but I think it shows how toxic the entertainment industry can be in any country. The company should of stepped in when all of it started happening. I think this also shows how a pop group shouldn’t be, I think both girls should of gotten equal lines in songs or if needed one girl gets more lines in one song because their voice site’s the song better and then the other girl gets more lines in the next song (and please also let the boys have their time to shine to its not just a two person group). The only group I’ve seen do this is the British girl group little mix (I don’t know much about K-pop I thought it would be an interesting video to watch, so please tell me if you know any K-pop groups who do it to), where everyone in each song gets their time to show off their amazing voices. And yes there are songs where one or two girls get more lines in a song (it was a 4 member group until last year now it’s a 3 member group) but they all got their time to shine. Which should have definitely happened with S#ARP, because as I stated before it’s a group give everyone a chance to sing or rap in this groups case.

[@Bestosterone]

Good on him for exposing that brat. That "apology" was crap too. Oh you dont remember what you did to me? You dont recollect you say? The nerve. Jihye is definitely strong. I couldnt take that abuse for so long and i could never think to forgive the other members.

[@lemonvise9266]

That manager deserves the world rn

[@kurtistownresident9743]

Normally id say not to jump to conclusions like everyone else in the comments but its literally been 20 years and everyone has shared their sides and apologized.

[@KarmelitaFox]

I remember reading about this on NetizenBuzz... What a terrible situation. It's specially sad how (according to the TV show reunion clip) Ji Hye felt more upset about having to be separated from the group and being left out (filming in different stages, driving in different vans...) and didn't even mention Ji Young trying to flip the narrative and bribing every witness she could, when it was a whole media affair that could have tarnished her (Ji Hye's) reputation had the manager not told the truth. Thankfully, it seems it's all in the past now.

[@Potterhead_Anime_K-stan]

Jiyoung could get an Oscar. She is so damn good at acting

[@crocodileranger8404]

it'd always the rich people who are jealous of people with real talent because they cannot buy it