Mr. Na, a cast member of ENA and SBS Plus’ reality dating series "I Am Solo, Love Forever" (the “Golden 38” special), is pushing back on persistent on-air bullying chatter, insisting it isn’t true.
On Oct. 20, he posted a lengthy note on his social media, writing, “Everyone can have their own circumstances, but you can’t twist that into claims of group bullying,” and shared a cheerful group photo taken during filming.
He added that several of the women ― back for a second round of reality TV ― were savvy about what makes the cut, sometimes joking, “Is this going to air?” “We knew our words and actions could be shown,” he stressed, “and we would never do something as absurd as ostracizing or harassing someone.”
The controversy flared after the Oct. 16 finale, when Season 23’s Ok-soon ― who ended the show paired with Mr. Kang ― was swept into allegations that she’d been isolated and talked about behind her back. During an Oct. 17 YouTube Live on Chonjang Entertainment’s channel, she offered an apology under a flood of viewer demands, but critics called it reluctant, and the backlash only grew.
Mr. Na also addressed where things stood with Season 23’s Soon-ja, saying the two had been on the outs even before joining "I Am Solo, Love Forever." According to him, Season 23’s Ok-soon believed Soon-ja was dating their castmate Young-chul and even phoned Young-chul directly to verify, outlining how past tensions took shape.
“As much as I’ve said, ‘I’m neutral ― you handle your own issues,’ watching how this was unfolding and how others were being treated made it hard to stay silent,” he wrote. “Silence can be noble, but if you stay quiet in the face of unfairness, there may be no one left to speak for you ― so I’m speaking up.”
On "I Am Solo, Love Forever", Mr. Na ultimately formed a final couple with Season 24’s Ok-soon. After the show, however, the two did not continue as a real-life couple.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)