Soojin, formerly a member of (G)I-DLE, who left the group and terminated her exclusive contract with Cube Entertainment due to school bullying allegations, has returned as a solo artist after two years. She has decided not to engage in broadcast or stage activities but has shown her determination to continue her career with the release of her first solo album.
Her debut solo album, titled 'Miss,' has successfully drawn attention by highlighting her strength in performance. However, the public's reception is predominantly negative. This sentiment was further cemented by a question-and-answer press release distributed by BRD Entertainment upon the album's release, which conspicuously avoided addressing the school bullying controversy.
The interview seemed to brush over the controversy, treating her hiatus as a natural break. This approach feels like starting on the wrong foot, especially given the controversy's impact on her career.
Soojin's school bullying scandal in 2021 was a hot topic in the entertainment industry. She admitted to having verbal altercations over the phone but denied physical violence. However, the issue escalated when actress Seo Shin-ae was mentioned as one of the victims. Despite Soojin's insistence that she never conversed with Seo Shin-ae during her school years, Seo's subsequent statement that Soojin bullied her with insults and baseless accusations eroded Soojin's credibility.
Furthermore, Soojin's lawsuit against the netizen who first accused her of being a bully ended with a non-prosecution decision (no charges filed). She maintains her innocence, claiming she was acquitted by a school violence committee in her first year of middle school and was recognized as a victim of coercion by seniors.
Despite being the center of such a tumultuous controversy, Soojin's silence on the matter is perplexing. Comparatively, actress Park Hye-su, who also took a break due to school violence allegations, clarified her legal proceedings and stance upon her return with the film 'You and I,' making Soojin and her agency's response seem lacking. This seems like a cautious strategy to gauge public reaction with the album release.
The public will inevitably notice her intent to return without properly addressing the controversy, which contradicts Soojin's claims of her innocence in the bullying allegations. If she decided to face criticism and move forward, more courage and sincerity were needed. A confident approach, or a more humble one if there are lingering concerns, would likely serve her better in the long run. Otherwise, the label of 'school violence' will continue to follow Soojin wherever she goes.
