A controversy emerged around Single’s Inferno Season 4 contestant Kook Dong-ho, after allegations about his past surfaced online. On May 3, 2026, an individual identifying herself as lawyer Lee Yoo-rim, using the X handle @chusami_lawyer, accused Kook Dong-ho of being involved in school bullying during his middle school years.
In a series of posts, she described multiple incidents of harassment and claimed he was associated with a group of delinquent students, commonly referred to as iljin in South Korea. According to her account, she experienced both direct and indirect forms of bullying.
She alleged that one incident involved a so-called “confession attack,” where she was publicly put in a difficult position as part of a staged confession. She also detailed other forms of harassment, including physical intimidation and pranks carried out by members of the group she claims he was connected to.
Lee Yoo-rim further stated that the contestant was dating one of the individuals she identified as a primary aggressor during that period. She claimed he was aware of the situation at the time but did not intervene.
The lawyer also shared that she had been contacted by Kook Dong-ho’s agency following her posts. According to her, the agency denied any connection between the contestant and the allegations raised. Kook Dong-ho gained attention on the show for his pairing with fellow contestant Kim A-rin, with the two choosing each other in the final selection.
The claims remained unverified, but the posts quickly gained traction online, drawing divided responses from netizens. Some expressed surprise, referencing Kook Dong-ho’s calm and considerate image on the show. One netizen wrote,
“What???? and i thought he was the most green flag that season”
Some viewers expressed shock, saying his on-screen image felt completely at odds with the allegations, while others cautioned against trusting reality show personas too easily.
Meanwhile, others supported the accuser, with some comparing her actions to a plotline out of the K-drama The Glory, calling it a dramatic and bold move.
Others called for caution and emphasized the need for confirmed evidence before forming conclusions.
Single’s Inferno’s Kook Dong-ho denies school bullying allegations as accuser vows to release evidence
In response to the allegations, Kook Dong-ho addressed the issue through an Instagram story, firmly denying all claims. He stated that the accusations being circulated were “not based on facts” and asserted that he had no involvement in any of the incidents described.
He specifically refuted allegations of participating in or assisting with acts of school bullying, including physical harassment and pranks mentioned in the posts. He also denied claims about his personal life, stating that he did not date the individual named by the accuser during his middle school years and questioned whether such a person was connected to him at all.
In his statement, he emphasized the importance of fact-checking and argued that the allegations relied on one-sided narratives. He further requested an apology, stating that the spread of unverified claims had caused harm to him and those around him.
Following his response, the accuser, lawyer Lee Yoo-rim, returned to social media and reiterated her claims. She alleged that Kook Dong-ho was aware of the bullying incidents she experienced and accused him of overlooking the actions of others at the time. She also dismissed the agency’s denial of any connection between them, arguing that perpetrators often do not remember their victims.
In a subsequent update, Lee Yoo-rim stated that she had reviewed both the agency’s statement and Kook Dong-ho’s personal response. She maintained that her claims were credible and warned that she would release supporting materials if an acknowledgment and apology were not issued. She added that she intended to present evidence to substantiate her account.
As the situation continues to unfold, both parties remain firm in their positions, with Kook Dong-ho denying all allegations and Lee Yoo-rim standing by her claims. The matter remains unresolved, with no independent verification of either side’s statements at this time.
Edited by Adrija Chakraborty