Is it an explanation or a sniper attack?.. 31st cohort Ok-soon, group chat leak sparks backlash → Soon-ja remains silent [★FOCUS]

*This content was translated by AI.

SBS Plus and ENA dating reality program "I Am Solo" (I Am SOLO) 31st cohort participant Ok-soon (hereinafter referred to as a pseudonym) went public with group chat contents in an attempt to explain herself amid a flood of criticism following the backbiting controversy, but the backlash has only intensified. In particular, her explanation has been interpreted as a targeted attack on Soon-ja, who did not accept her apology, causing the controversy to spread. Meanwhile, Soon-ja has continued to remain silent without offering any further stance even after Ok-soon's explanation.

Ok-soon posted a lengthy message on her Instagram on the 3rd. Through this post, she stated, "I sincerely apologize for causing inconvenience to many people due to matters related to the 31st cohort broadcast. I am taking it seriously that my actions and words may have hurt someone, regardless of my intentions."

She continued, "Among these, I would like to clarify the facts regarding the part that many people were most curious about and offered opinions on," and then revealed the contents of the so-called "Girls Talk Chat Room" where 31st cohort female participants participated, as well as some of the text messages she sent to Soon-ja.

First, regarding the "Girls Talk Chat Room," Ok-soon explained, "It was a space created to arrange meetings and coordinate schedules," and added, "The actual conversation content was mostly about coordinating meeting schedules and attendance, and there was no atmosphere of excluding a specific person or treating them rudely."

The conversation content revealed by Ok-soon included the process of 31st cohort female participants coordinating meeting schedules, and later, after Soon-ja, who was identified as the victim of the backbiting controversy, left the "Girls Talk Chat Room," Ok-soon conveyed her apologies to Soon-ja on multiple occasions.

Regarding this, Ok-soon explained, "On April 29, the day my actions became problematic, before the 5th episode broadcast, I heard Soon-ja's interview content from another participant and immediately conveyed my apology," and added, "This was not a belated apology after the first broadcast meeting I missed, but rather a contact made immediately after learning the content."

Ok-soon further stated that although she continued to try to convey her apologies to Soon-ja, she received no response. She said, "I met her directly at the live broadcast site and approached her to apologize once again before it started, but at that time, I judged it was not a situation where we could talk, so I did not continue the conversation. Immediately after the live broadcast ended, I contacted her again to convey my apology."

The text messages revealed by Ok-soon contained repeated apologies toward Soon-ja.

Ok-soon wrote, "I was hesitant to contact you on Wednesday, but I got startled after hearing something very inappropriate just now, so I contacted you anyway. What happened? While you and Yeong-sook were talking about oppa Kyung-soo inside 'I Am Solo,' I heard people talking about you in our room and wondered if you misunderstood. Even so, if you are saying it to this extent, I feel like I may have done something wrong by only hearing one side. I found out much later, but I am so sorry."

She also added, "If I did anything that made you feel upset, I am truly sorry," and "I really didn't know. Inside that room, the further we went, the less opportunity I had to talk to you."

When Soon-ja did not reply, Ok-soon expressed her apologies again the next day via SNS direct message (DM).

Ok-soon said, "It seems you don't check your KakaoTalk, and after watching last week's broadcast, I wasn't sure how to convey my message, so I thought about it and am sending this," and apologized again, "I think I got too immersed inside and let my emotions get ahead of me. I watched last week's broadcast several times, and it seems I ignored your sincerity, so I am truly sorry."

Ok-soon also said, "I don't think you will immediately feel better just because I apologized after saying that there, but I still wanted to apologize once again," and added, "You probably have many things to worry about, so I hope you can make it to the final broadcast without any issues."

Ok-soon also left an apology text message for Soon-ja after the live broadcast on the 28th of last month, which was attended by all 31st cohort participants of "I Am Solo."

Ok-soon revealed, "I saw that you probably don't want to talk yet, and I didn't want to make a show of greeting you, so I refrained," and added, "It's late, but I am truly sorry. I want to talk when your heart has healed over time. I am truly sorry again for not being able to contact you while the emotional gap between us deepened."

However, Soon-ja's reply still did not come. Ok-soon sent another text message about 17 hours later, stating, "Seeing that you haven't contacted me, I will understand that you have no intention of accepting an apology. However, as I said yesterday, I hope you will reconsider the part that was misunderstood when your heart has healed, even if it takes time. I had no intention of hurting you, whether at the filming site or outside, but if you felt hurt, I am sorry."

Before posting her explanation, Ok-soon had also sent a message informing her, "I contacted you in advance because my actions could have caused harm to you contrary to my intentions."

This part has once again triggered a flood of reactions from netizens.

Some netizens have shown critical reactions, such as "The apology lacks sincerity," "It's not an apology letter but a complaint post," "It would have been better if this hadn't been posted," and "An apology that tries to evade the situation is felt by the other party as well."

In particular, some pointed out that the expression "I will understand that you have no intention of accepting an apology" appeared as a unilateral notification and seemed like a public sniper attack targeting Soon-ja. It was interpreted as resentment toward Soon-ja, who did not accept the apology.

On the other hand, reactions such as "She has apologized enough" and "She is being criticized too harshly, so it's now sad" have also emerged, dividing public opinion.

Ok-soon bowed her head and said, "Through this incident, I am also reflecting on my own shortcomings. I will act more carefully in the future. I sincerely apologize to Soon-ja, who was hurt by my words, and to the viewers who felt inconvenience."

However, Soon-ja has not offered any further stance despite Ok-soon's repeated apologies and explanations. It remains to be seen in which direction the controversy surrounding the 31st cohort participants will unfold.

Meanwhile, "I Am Solo" 31st cohort concluded on the 27th of last month. However, it is experiencing a backlash due to the backbiting controversy involving some participants. Scenes were broadcast where Ok-soon, Yeong-sook, and Jung-hee, who were roommates, talked about Soon-ja, and the controversy grew when Soon-ja happened to hear it. Some viewers pointed out that the three roommates essentially badmouthed Soon-ja, and they conveyed their apologies during the "I Am Solo" production company Chonjang Entertainment live broadcast held the day after the series ended.

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*This content was translated by AI.