Seo Ye Ji, who returned to TV on Saturday for the first time in years, said she had worked hard to address past controversies that left her on hiatus from the entertainment scene.
The 34-year-old actress appeared on TV Chosun's Heo Young Man's Food Travel, marking her return to an entertainment program following a series of scandals in 2021.
Seo, known for her roles in It's Okay to Not Be Okay and Eve, faced allegations of gaslighting her former partner, actor Kim Jung Hyun, along with other accusations that led to a public apology in 2022.
Since then, she has largely stayed out of the public eye, making only a brief return for the 2022 tvN drama Eve.
During the March 30 episode, Seo candidly spoke about the challenges she has faced, noting that public scrutiny had taken an emotional toll on her.
"There were many, but I figured... Since it's not a one-off thing, I thought I had to accept it as a part of the job. So I sat still and took it all," Seo said.
"But as time passed, I realized that led to far more people having far greater misunderstandings about me than I could have expected. So, over time, it became incredibly stressful."
The show's host, Heo Young Man, advised Seo to avoid reading negative comments and to focus on moving forward.
Online, many viewers expressed support for her return to the industry.
Read more: Seo Ye Ji Makes Unexpected Update + Is She Preparing for K-Drama Comeback?
"I'm not saying Seo Ye Ji did nothing wrong, but is it right to keep attacking one person for years as if she committed a serious crime?" one user commented. "I wish people would be this persistent when going after male actors instead."
Others echoed similar sentiments, stating that she should be allowed to continue her career.
"Enough already. It's not like she committed a crime. If she makes a solid return with good shows and acts well, that should be enough," another comment read.
Seo's name came up again recently amid the controversy surrounding actor Kim Soo Hyun's agency, GOLD MEDALIST, and its CEO, Lee Sa Rang.
After being questioned whether or not she was involved in the sales scandal currently in the news, Seo posted on her official fan café, firmly distancing herself from the company and its executives.
GOLD MEDALIST has denied any allegations of using Seo's past controversies as a distraction from their own legal issues.
While it remains unclear whether Seo plans to take on new acting projects soon, her appearance on Heo Young Man's Food Travel suggests she is cautiously reentering the public sphere.
Read more: Seo Ye Ji Signs With Song Kang Ho, Hyeri's Agency + Fans Elated Over Her Comeback
