After years of silence, South Korean actress Park Hye-soo is making headlines again — this time for her quiet comeback and surprising new venture. From a long-stalled drama to launching her own café, the star is reclaiming her public life after a turbulent scandal.
Actress Park Hye-soo was accused of school violence in February 2021, when two individuals came forward claiming to be victims of her bullying.
Some of the accusations against Park Hye-soo included taking money from fellow students and hitting them in the face. However, it was later revealed through a series of text messages that the bullying accusations were false and that those who accused her were actually her friends from middle school.
At the time, Park Hye-soo was promoting her newest movie, “The Dream Songs.” During the press preview, she spoke about the incident, and her agency, Ghost Studio, also released a statement about filing a lawsuit due to the defamation caused by misinformation.
“I’m aware that yesterday, my agency informed you about the situation that has been going on… I think many of you have been curious, and I have been making efforts for a long time to correct the falsehoods. Although the investigation is still ongoing, there will be no change in my stance, and I will continue to make efforts until the end,” she said at the time.
She apologized for having to bring up the bullying incident during the press preview and encouraged the audience to focus on the film instead.
She also released a lengthy statement on her Instagram account, which has remained inactive to this day. In her statement, set against a plain white background, she apologized for not speaking on the issue right away. She believed that no matter what she said, her words would carry no weight due to the overwhelming prejudice against her.
“Although a lot of evidence has been exposed to add more power to words, I saw that the truth was not accepted as the truth, so I posted this,” she shared.
In her post, she explained that she left to study in the United States in 2008 and stayed there for a year. By July 2009, she was enrolled in an entirely new school.
“The rumors about me started to spread quickly because I came from Gangbuk, was one year older than my classmates, and went to study abroad in the United States,” Park Hye-soo revealed.
The rumors against her included claims that she went to America for an abortion, while some speculated that she never went to America at all.
She added that in her old school — before moving to America — she was happy. “As an ordinary student in my previous school, I was loved by friends and teachers and filled with only good memories. Those times were unbearably harsh,” she said, referring to the contrast when she transferred.
She went on to explain that the person claiming to be a victim used to be her friend. “I believed that what we shared was a childhood friendship,” Park Hye-soo admitted. “It really hurts to think about why it had to be like this when we were friends.”
Ultimately, she ended her statement by apologizing to her network, as well as to the officials, actors, and staff members affected by the controversy. She also thanked all those who stood by her through it all.
Following the controversy, Park Hye-soo took an extended hiatus from acting, suspending all professional activities and withdrawing from social media. Throughout her time away from the spotlight, she consistently maintained her innocence and presented evidence to refute the allegations.
However, despite sharing proof that the accusations were baseless, mounting public pressure led to the indefinite postponement of her projects. The highly anticipated drama “Dear.M,” in which she played a lead role, was shelved just before its premiere, and Park Hye-soo quietly stepped out of the public eye.
In 2023, she began to gradually step back into the spotlight with the release of her film “You and Me,” and attended the 2023 Busan International Film Festival for its screening.
By July 2025, her long-awaited and previously postponed drama “Dear.M” finally aired on KBS 2TV. Set at a fictional university, the drama follows an anonymous confession on a student forum that shakes the entire campus. Park’s role as the bright and energetic Ma Joo Ah was central to the story, and the controversy had initially forced the production to halt all plans.
Park Hye-soo first debuted as an actress in 2015, starring in dramas such as “Yongpal,” “Introverted Boss,” “Youth Generation,” and more. She also appeared in films like “Swing Kids” and “Samjin Group English TOEIC Class.”
Apart from her acting career, Park Hye-soo has ventured outside the entertainment industry, launching a café business. Actor Kim Jong-soo visited the café in Paju, South Korea, where Park Hye-soo personally bakes the pastries and makes the coffee.
The photo shows Kim Jong-soo, Park Hye-soo, and Lee Joo-young taking a selfie together. Park Hye-soo, wearing an apron, is smiling brightly, and the relaxed, warm atmosphere catches the eye. The three share a connection from working together in the film “Samjin Group English TOEIC Class.”
Now that the allegations have been put to rest, Park Hye-soo appears poised to gradually return to the entertainment industry — hopeful that she can rebuild her career and once again earn her place as one of South Korea’s most beloved actresses.
