Video published on YouTube channel 'Chon-jang Entertainment TV'

I'm SOLO. [ENA]
I'm SOLO. [ENA]

Amid growing criticism over cast member Okssun's rude behavior — including speaking ill of others behind their backs — on ENA and SBS Plus's "I'm SOLO," Season 31 participant Sangcheol, a lawyer, has stirred fresh controversy after appearing to blame the victim in the dispute.

According to the YouTube channel "Chon-jang Entertainment TV," a video titled "'I'm SOLO Live Reaction' Season 31 — Why Are We Always Talking on My Bed…?" was posted Tuesday. In the video, Season 31 cast members — excluding Yeongho, Sunja and Gyeongsu — watched the season finale together and shared behind-the-scenes stories and candid thoughts.

Sangcheol's remarks came during a scene in the broadcast where Okssun, Yeongssuk and Jeonghui were having another "girls talk." Okssun was shown telling Yeongssuk to "follow your heart" — widely seen as meddling — while Jeonghui moved to close the door when Sunja walked past the room. Sunja, meanwhile, was standing at her vanity looking in the mirror, close enough that the trio's conversation was audible to her.

Other cast members watching the scene reacted cautiously, saying, "She can hear everything," and "Always be careful about soundproofing."

Sangcheol, however, called out Sunja's behavior, saying, "But why is she just standing there listening?" Okssun responded with a look of disbelief, saying, "She could have just come in — it's not like we stopped talking to her." His remark amounted to faulting Sunja for not joining the conversation and instead overhearing it from outside, at a time when she and the three women were already at odds.

During the same broadcast segment the group was watching, Okssun could be heard admitting, "There's already an emotional rift between us," acknowledging the falling-out with Sunja.

When the broadcast then showed an upset Sunja retreating to her room and sitting beside the door, Sangcheol continued to scrutinize her actions, asking, "Why is she sitting there?" and noting, "She left the door open." He then defended Okssun, saying, "She wasn't taking sides — she was just saying Gyeongsu doesn't like either of them," to which Okssun agreed, adding, "Right. Gyeongsu oppa's behavior was so ambiguous…"

In the broadcast, when Gyeongsu walked into the living room carrying Sunja's bouquet, Okssun was shown rushing over to Yeongssuk and urging her to "break down her emotional defenses." Watching the scene back, Okssun showed no sign of remorse toward Sunja or embarrassment over her own overstepping.

Earlier, in a live broadcast on "Chon-jang Entertainment TV" published May 28, Okssun had said, "I sincerely apologize for hurting Sunja with my meddling and words disguised as honesty. I won't just leave it at an apology — even if she doesn't accept it, I will live knowing I was sorry and that I was wrong."

Sunja said she did not feel sincerity in the apologies from Yeongssuk and Okssun, though she did from Jeonghui. She has also unfollowed all Season 31 cast members on social media, with the exception of Gyeongsu, who became her real-life partner.


jshan@heraldcorp.com