Yikes! Netizens Are Calling "The Glory" Star Kim Hieora a Real-Life Bully After a Leaked Phone Call

Content warning: The article contains references to school violence and bullying.

The Glory and The Uncanny Counter actress Kim Hieora has recently been embroiled in bullying allegations, following reports released by Dispatch.

In news released on Wednesday, September 6, the Korean outlet disclosed the actress’ alleged former affiliation with an “iljin” (school bullying group) at Sangji Girls’ Middle School. 

Later on, Hieora explained that “Big Sanji” was an online community and not a bullying group. However, the actress apologized and admitted to being a bystander, saying she would “never hit a friend or a younger student.”

Hieora’s agency GRAM Entertainment also denied the allegations, stating they would take legal action against malicious accusations.

READ: "The Glory" Actress Kim Hieora’s Recorded Phone Call with an Alleged Bullying Victim

But in a new report on Dispatch released on September 9, the news outlet revealed records of a phone call between the actress and the alleged victim, referred to as “V.” The phone call had reportedly taken place on September 8, days after the allegations were spread online. 

Previously in May 2023, the actress met up with other alumni from the school, with one being the first to tip off Dispatch. Then, Hieora made attempts to meet “V,” but hadn’t managed to successfully meet her in person.

“You called me after The Glory ended, right?” “V” said, as stated in the transcript translated by Koreaboo.

Hieora confirmed this, prompting V to respond: “Why did you call? Ora, be honest. If you wanted to truly apologize, you would’ve called me before The Glory. But I heard that someone gave Dispatch a tip-off about your school bullying after the show ended?”

Segments of the exchange delved into the actress apologizing to the alleged victim.

V: If that didn’t happen, you wouldn’t have called.

KH: I thought about you guys. Honestly, even before it happened…

V: Ora, I honestly only can see this as an excuse. Do you get what I mean?

KH: I can see why you’d think so.

V: Right? So what?

KH: I’m sorry.

V: So you admit to having hit me?

KH: I’m sorry. So sorry.

Despite Hieora’s earlier statement on being a bystander, the conversation between the alleged victim and the actress discussed references to violence reportedly perpetrated by Hieora.

V: So you didn’t hit me?

KH: Every day, relentlessly, I…[redacted] You…

V: You hit me after calling me to the noraebang, outside… You bullied only me. Every day.

KH: I went to the academy too… I wasn’t with the gang every day…

V: You said that you didn’t physically or verbally abuse people. That you were going to take strong legal action.

KH: About that…

V: How can you say that? How bold of you.

KH: [silence]

V: Speak, Ora. You said you were just a bystander. You said that with your own mouth. But you’re not just a bystander. Did you not hit us? Did you not hit me?

KH: [silence]

V: You bullied me the most. I don’t get it.

KH: I have my own recollections of it.

V: I was tending to errands. You said, “Hey you b*tch, if you don’t hurry over, I’ll hit F and G.” I remember it. It was a rainy day, at the alley near [redacted] Middle School. You hit F until her nose bled that day.

KH: Me?

V: Yeah. You don’t remember it.

KH: I talked with F. F too, she…

V: I knew that your bullying matters would explode one day. I waited for it. That’s why I didn’t contact or meet you. Do you know what I mean?

KH: Yeah.

V: You’ve been earning money all this while. So it’s now time for you to go into reflection. Right? Bystander? That’s not it…

Netizens React to Kim Hieora's Bullying Allegations

Kim Hieora shot to fame in the 2022 Netflix original The Glory, where she played Lee Sa-ra, one of the school abusers of the protagonist Dong-eun (played by Song Hye Kyo). Netizens had noted the similarities between the allegations and the acclaimed K-drama.

In recent updates, the actress’ agency GRAM Entertainment reiterated that they will take legal action against Dispatch, stating that the transcript was heavily edited.

“Today, we express our regret regarding a media outlet that covered the informant’s one-sided claims about Kim Hieora as if they were proven facts, and we decided to take legal action as we cannot condone the current situation which is damaging the reputation of the agency’s actress and causing suffering to unrelated individuals,” the statement reads.

“We disclose the acts committed by the media outlet in the course of reporting as follows, and we intend to take strong legal action against groundless claims and those who unilaterally claim such in the future.”

Amid the circulation of the allegations, Hieora's episode with SNL Korea was then canceled. However, as of writing, the actress will continue to take part in her upcoming Frida musical as scheduled.