Actor Jo Jae Yoon appeared on the July 23 episode of Lee Jong Hyuk’s YouTube channel alongside fellow actor Lee Chul Min, both of whom attended Seoul Institute of the Arts.

During the conversation, the three actors discussed the strict senior-junior hierarchy that once existed at the school. Lee Chul Min recalled that his class included several now-famous entertainers, including Hwang Jung Min, Jung Jae Young, Ryu Seung Ryong, Ahn Jae Wook, and broadcaster Shin Dong Yup.

Lee Jong Hyuk also described the atmosphere at the time, recalling that first-year students were routinely subjected to physical punishment by upperclassmen under the guise of maintaining discipline. He added that his class later decided to end the abusive tradition rather than passing it on to younger students.

As the discussion continued, Jo Jae Yoon shared one of his own most painful memories from college. He recalled that shortly after enrolling, all first-year students were gathered together when a senior physically assaulted them. “A senior struck the freshmen on the head with a wooden stick,” Jo Jae Yoon said. He added that the shocking incident has remained vivid in his memory despite the passage of many years.

Jo Jae Yoon also revealed that he later encountered the same senior while filming a movie. According to Jo Jae Yoon, the senior approached him during a break as though nothing had happened. “He came over and asked how I’d been, saying he always knew I’d succeed,” Jo Jae Yoon recalled.

However, Jo Jae Yoon admitted that he could not simply move on from what had happened. “The person who hit someone may not remember it, but the person who was hit never forgets.” His remark resonated strongly with viewers, highlighting the long-lasting emotional impact that violence can leave on victims.

Jo Jae Yoon disclosed that the emotional weight of the encounter was so overwhelming that he quietly asked a representative from the film’s production team whether it might be possible to replace the senior actor.

During the recording, Jo Jae Yoon reportedly identified the actor by name and even mentioned the project they worked on together. However, the production team behind the YouTube channel chose to edit out those details to avoid unnecessary controversy. Ultimately, no casting changes were made, and the two actors completed filming together. Even so, Jo Jae Yoon admitted that he was never able to become comfortable around the senior during the production.

Jo Jae Yoon’s story has reignited discussion about the once-common culture of violent hazing in South Korean universities, particularly within performing arts programs where rigid seniority traditions were deeply entrenched. His reflections underscore how acts that perpetrators may dismiss as part of “tradition” can leave lasting psychological wounds for those who experience them.

By sharing his experience publicly, Jo Jae Yoon emphasized an important message: while time may pass, the memories of violence often remain with victims long after the incidents themselves are over.

Sources: Daum | MHN스포츠