Ju Ji Hoon Recalls Being the Target of School Bullying: 'It Was Cowardly'

Ju Ji Hoon took a trip down memory lane and recalled his unforgettable experience in high school. 

Amid the issues regarding celebrities being accused of school violence lately, the "Kingdom" actor became the latest one to confess that he used to be a victim of bullying. 

Ju Ji Hoon Confesses to Being Victim of Bullying in Middle School

During Ju Ji Hoon's appearance on Shin Dong Yup's YouTube channel "Stingy Brother Shin Dong Yup," the actor shared his painful past as a student. 

According to him, he was studying in Cheonho Dong, where they had over 75 students in one class, a perfect breeding ground for bullies. 

READ MORE: Did You Know? Ju Ji Hoon Almost Refused To Play Lead Role in 'Princess Hours' 

Despite Ju Ji Hoon's towering height, he still became the target of bullies. As mentioned by a news outlet, he was victimized by a group of bullies in middle school. Ju Ji Hoon also thought that these violators preferred to be in a group because of cowardice. 

"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.'"

At one point, the group demanded that he bow down to them and do what he had to do to survive.

"I was bullied by them until I graduated high school. 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."

In South Korea, a number of celebrities have been canceled lately because of speculations about school violence. These incident also led them to step down from their projects, while some would take a hiatus until their own issues die down. 

For the past few years, the celebrities accused of being school bullies so far were Jo Byung Gyu, Shim Eun Woo, Park Hye Soo, Seo Ye Ji, and even K-pop stars like (G)I_DLE's Soojin. 

Recently, "Wedding Impossible" star Jeon Jong Seo was also alleged to be a school bully after testimonies surfaced online. 

Ju Ji Hoon Returns to Small Screen Through 'Blood Free'

After "Jirisan" in 2021, Ju Ji Hoon is set to return with the highly-anticipated K-drama "Blood Free."

The top star will work alongside award-winning actress Han Hyo Joo as they take on lead roles. Slated to air on April 10 via Disney+, "Blood Free" is a suspense thriller penned by "Stranger" and "Grid" writer Lee Soo Yeon. 

Joining Ju Ji Hoon and Han Hyo Joo are Lee He Joon, Lee Moo Saeng, and Park Ji Yeon, who will be playing as the main characters. 

Other than the soon-to-be released K-drama, Ju Ji Hoon will headlime the thriller mystery "Light Shop" with Park Bo Young, and will be returning to rom-coms for "Love on a Single Log Bridge."

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Ju Ji Hoon, Han Hyo Joo's Drama 'Blood Free' Confirms to Air in THIS Month

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Written by Geca Flores