“‘I was bullied by them until I graduated high school,’” confesses Ju Ji Hoon, the renowned Korean actor, during a recent appearance on Shin Dong Yup’s popular YouTube show, Stingy Brother Shin Dong Yup. This startling revelation has brought to light the actor’s struggle with school bullying, a topic that has long been a concern in South Korea.
In the densely populated area of Cheonho Dong, where he spent his early life, Ju’s school was a bustling hub with an overwhelming 75 students per class across 19 different classes. This setting, unfortunately, was ripe for a hostile environment of bullying. Despite his big build, which one might assume could deter bullies, he became a target in middle school when student bullies began to organize into groups. He criticized their cowardice, stating, “There really were kids who hit others. But they didn’t bully me because I was big until we got to middle school, and they formed a group.”
He further elaborated on the bullies’ tactics, saying, “I thought it was cowardly. For example, if Ho Cheol and I were friends, it wasn’t about ‘Let’s fight one-on-one’ — it was more like, ‘I’m going to bring my older brother.’”
One particular incident he mentioned involved the bullies demanding that other students bow to them. In a small act of defiance, Ju revealed he would only slightly bow his head instead of a complete bow — a compromise that allowed him to maintain a degree of dignity. “The group would demand a bow, and I couldn’t do that. So, cowardly as it was, I bowed my head just a little bit,” he admitted.
School bullying has been a concerning problem in South Korea for a long time now, with celebrities — including K-Pop idols and the country’s top actors — often being exposed as perpetrators and, in some cases, as victims. Ju Ji Hoon’s confession brings this issue back into the spotlight, reminding us of the importance of addressing and combating school bullying. His story serves as a beacon of hope for those who are currently facing similar struggles, proving that it is possible to overcome such adversities and achieve success.
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