Police have referred the lawyer who accused Netflix dating show star Kook Dong-ho of school bullying to prosecutors on defamation and attempted coercion charges, Kook’s legal representatives said on November 6.
Law firm Phil, which represents Kook, confirmed the move in a statement reported by Star News on November 7. Police referred the lawyer, identified only as A, to the prosecution on charges of defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act and attempted coercion.
“This referral is the result of investigative authorities recognizing the suspect’s criminal charges, and we expect his criminal liability to be strictly established,” the firm said. It warned that not only the initial spread of false claims but also their repeated circulation could carry legal liability, adding that further criminal complaints and civil damages claims would follow if more illegal acts are confirmed.
The referral comes a day after Kook posted a lengthy rebuttal on November 5 denying the allegations. He said he never dated the woman identified as B, did not attend the same middle school, and was never in a position to direct or condone bullying through her. He also rejected a claim involving a so-called “cake confession attack,” saying he had no knowledge of when, where, or by whom it supposedly happened.
Kook added that the accuser first built the claims on the premise that he and B were in a relationship, then posted a correction saying they were not dating, and later deleted it after facing criticism. He argued that anonymous tips are not proof, and that what matters is whether claims are specific, consistent, and backed by objective evidence.
The accuser, a practicing lawyer, had claimed that B had others strike his head with a badminton racket, place thumbtacks on his chair, and glue his locker shut, and that Kook, described as a “famous iljin,” had enjoyed it. Kook denied the claims as false, and his agency Mood filed a criminal complaint over the allegations.
Kook rose to public attention on the fourth season of Netflix’s Single’s Inferno, released in 2025, where he finished as a final couple with model Kim A-rin. School bullying allegations have become one of the most damaging controversies in Korean entertainment, which is why the police referral is being closely watched.
The case now moves to prosecutors, who will decide whether to bring formal charges against the lawyer.
