Mukbang YouTuber Nareum, who has 2.63 million subscribers, confessed to being a past victim of school violence, and Choi Tae-woong, a member of the group BZ-BOYS who was identified by netizens as the possible perpetrator, denied the allegation.
On the 24th, Choi Tae-woong posted an official statement from the law firm Hwaon on his personal account.
In the released statement, Hwaon, the legal representative of Choi Tae-woong, said, "Recently, YouTuber NareumTV posted a video on Instagram and TikTok stating that 'an idol who failed to debut after appearing on Produce 101 was a school violence perpetrator in fourth grade,' and related suspicions have been raised that the person in question is Choi Tae-woong."
The law firm denied the allegation, saying, "However, we make it clear that such suspicions are outright false."
They continued, "Choi Tae-woong did not commit the kinds of violent acts alleged by YouTuber NareumTV during his school days, and he did not inflict any physical or mental harm," adding, "Nevertheless, after the video was posted, follow-up coverage continued, and baseless rumors have spread indiscriminately as numerous malicious comments were posted on Choi Tae-woong's social media, causing serious reputational damage."
The law firm said, "Accordingly, Hwaon has taken civil and criminal legal action on behalf of Choi Tae-woong for rights infringement caused by the spread of false information, and we strongly request that the related videos and posts currently online be deleted immediately."
The law firm added, "We hope that the spread of unverified claims and speculative content will not cause further harm, and we will hold people legally responsible to the end to prevent any additional damage."
Meanwhile, on the 18th Nareum posted a video on her personal channel titled "the story of a school violence perpetrator who even created an anti-fan cafe and later debuted as an idol." In the video, Nareum said, "A few years ago, while flipping through TV channels, I saw the season 2 audition program Produce 101 and recognized a familiar face. It was one of my school violence perpetrators," and added, "At the time, Daum Cafe was all the rage, and if my name was Nareum, they created a cafe called 'Nasitmoh' meaning a group that hates Nareum, where they wrote insults about me every day and snickered. Those 10-year-olds were pretty crafty."
She said, "I remember telling my mother because I could not bear it, meeting with my homeroom teacher, and on the way home crying, 'If I die will that person be punished, I hope they are punished.' Even now, 20 years later, I remember the mood and the words from that day."
Afterward, Nareum said she saw the perpetrator's account on social media and sent a message but was ignored. She said, "That friend was eliminated and did not debut from that program, but now debuted under another agency. I do not wish for that person to fail. Although that idol is not very famous yet, just as everyone has their shining time, that person's shining time will surely come," and added, "I was too young then, so I would appreciate just one apology."
Below is the full text of the law firm Hwaon's statement
We are the law firm Hwaon, legal representatives of Choi Tae-woong.
Recently, YouTuber Nareum TV posted a video on Instagram and TikTok saying, "An idol who appeared on Produce 101 and was eliminated and later debuted was a school violence perpetrator in elementary school fourth grade," and related suspicions have been raised that the person in question is Choi Tae-woong.
However, we make it clear that such suspicions are outright false.
Choi Tae-woong did not commit school violence during his school days as alleged by YouTuber NareumTV, and he did not inflict physical or mental harm.
Nevertheless, after the video was posted, follow-up coverage continued, and numerous malicious comments were posted on Choi Tae-woong's social media accounts, leading to the indiscriminate spread of baseless rumors and causing serious reputational damage.
Accordingly, Hwaon has taken civil and criminal legal action on behalf of Choi Tae-woong for rights infringement caused by the spread of false information, and we strongly request that the related videos and posts currently online be deleted immediately.
We hope the spread of unverified claims and speculative content will not cause further harm, and we will hold people legally responsible to the end to prevent additional damage.
Thank you.
Attorney in charge at law firm Hwaon, Jo Seong-min
[Photo] social media
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