Rumors are swirling around Oksoon from the 31st batch of “I am SOLO,” causing quite a stir.
In the ENA and SBS Plus broadcast of “I am SOLO” on the 13th, a controversy erupted over “total editing” as Oksoon’s screen time was significantly reduced.
Previously, Oksoon faced criticism for bullying behavior, such as gossiping and mocking Soonja while hanging out with Youngsook and Jeonghee. Viewers dubbed them “The Glory Trio” (referencing the Netflix series The Glory) for their “school bully” vibes and complained to the production team for not protecting the other cast members.
Specifically, rumors had been circulating even before the broadcast that Oksoon and Youngho from the 31st batch became a final couple and are getting married in September due to a premarital pregnancy. Angry viewers targeted Youngho’s dental clinic with “review terror,” leading Youngho to quietly close the review section.
However, the “I am SOLO” production team sparked further backlash by appearing to protect Oksoon without addressing her bullying. After a clip on the official YouTube channel “Village Chief Entertainment” showed Oksoon making hurtful remarks to a struggling Soonja, asking “Who died?” and saying “It feels like a funeral home,” the production team suddenly deleted the unreleased footage. They even deleted a previously released teaser and re-uploaded it with Oksoon’s scenes edited out, adding a caption asking viewers to “refrain from excessive criticism toward the participants.”
Oksoon’s screen time was noticeably shorter in the broadcast on the 13th. During a race for a super date ticket, Youngsook fell while competing for 1st place with Soonja. Although Soonja won the ticket, Oksoon praised Youngsook upon returning to the lodge, saying, “In our hearts, Youngsook is number one.” Youngsook then spread a falsehood, claiming her leg was tripped by someone, which left Soonja crying in secret.
Comforted by Youngja, the only person on her side, Soonja complained of stress and stomach pain. Meanwhile, Kyungsoo approached Soonja with a selfish request to use her super date ticket for Youngsook. Eventually, Soonja collapsed from severe stomach cramps and was rushed to the hospital at the production team’s suggestion. Even as Soonja was being taken away, Youngsook mocked her, complaining that Kyungsoo found it difficult to use the ticket on her and asking, “Should I wail too?” Jeonghee also ignored the suffering Soonja.
Viewer anger intensified after the broadcast. Many were shocked by the lack of humanity shown by the male participants, who were laughing and drinking while Soonja suffered, as well as the trio of Oksoon, Youngsook, and Jeonghee. Furthermore, the production’s editing policy, which seemed to downplay the perpetrator’s actions by reducing Oksoon’s screen time while highlighting the victim’s pain, drew public outrage. Some are even moving to file complaints with the Korea Communications Standards Commission. Regarding the editing controversy, “I am SOLO” remained vague, stating they plan to “broadcast according to the flow of the content.”
Amidst this, claims have emerged that the production team edited Oksoon’s scenes because she threatened them. A post on a professional community site claimed, “Oksoon is pregnant and received a diagnosis of nervous breakdown and absolute stability,” adding that she requested editing, warning that she would hold them responsible if anything happened to the baby. The post alleged that when the production team refused, Oksoon threatened to commit suicide, leading them to accept her request. While these rumors remain unconfirmed, they are spreading rapidly across various communities due to the extreme anger toward the “Glory Trio.”
Meanwhile, Oksoon has remained silent with her SNS set to private. Jeonghee posted an apology saying, “I felt ashamed of myself while watching and have reflected deeply. I sincerely apologized to the person involved and we are on good terms. I am also sorry for causing discomfort to the viewers,” but later deleted the post. In a follow-up, she explained, “I deleted it because I was cautious about every word I used. I’m sorry for the discomfort. I will think more deeply and post a formal message later.”
