Won-i [The Muse Entertainment]
Won-i [The Muse Entertainment]

A person claiming to be the former homeroom teacher of RESCENE member Won-i has come forward to deny online rumors that the singer was a school bully in middle school.

The rumors began Saturday, when a social media user claimed to have knowledge of Won-i's past and alleged she had been an "iljin" — a term for a school bully or delinquent.

The post offered no supporting evidence, but it spread rapidly across online communities.

Another user, identified only as A, then responded on their own social media account, saying they had been Won-i's homeroom teacher in her second and third years of middle school.

To verify their identity, A shared a handwritten letter from Won-i, photos of her with friends, a graduation album and message exchanges with other teachers who had taught her.

A photo posted by a user claiming to be Won-i's former middle school homeroom teacher. [Social media]
A photo posted by a user claiming to be Won-i's former middle school homeroom teacher. [Social media]

"I was Won-i's homeroom teacher in her second and third years of middle school," A wrote. "If she did anything wrong back then, it is my fault for not teaching her well. I ask that you stop the baseless attacks."

A described Won-i as a student who would often give candy to teachers and tell them she loved them, and recalled that she served as a student council officer and took part in school activities, including an anti-bullying campaign.

A also shared a story from the day before Won-i's graduation ceremony, when she visited a cake-making workshop with friends and presented a handmade cake as a gift. "Even though I was strict with them early in my teaching career, they still respected me," A said. "I still vividly remember saying goodbye to them in tears."

On Won-i's friendships, A said the friends pictured in the photos had consistently stayed in touch after graduation. "Most of them went on a two-day trip together as recently as this past February — they are still close friends. Won-i couldn't join because of her schedule," A added.

The user who originally posted the rumors has since deleted both the post and their account.

RESCENE's agency has not issued an official statement on the matter.


paq@heraldcorp.com