Actor Lee Yi-kyung says he has filed a criminal complaint against “A,” the individual who ignited rumors about his private life. His statement also includes pointed frustration toward MBC’s variety series 'Hangout with Yoo,' which he recently left ― a revelation likely to stoke further controversy.
On the 21st, Lee addressed the issue directly for the first time in a post on his social media.
Sharing a copy of the complaint, Lee said he reported A for blackmail and for defamation by false information under Korea’s Information and Communications Network Act. He explained that he’d stayed silent at his agency’s request “until we completed the criminal filing against the distributor.” He added that he recently gave a statement at the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul and “finished the procedures for charges related to blackmail and defamation by falsehood.”
“I was furious at every turn,” he wrote, describing how someone claiming to be German “kept appearing and disappearing,” sending threatening emails to his company months ago. “The agency calmed me down, saying there was no reason to get into a truth battle over false claims. The person said it was fabricated and vanished within a day, but because of that, I was advised to step down from a variety show ― and we chose to voluntarily leave.”
Lee recently exited 'Hangout with Yoo,' where he’d been a cast member for three years. Producers previously said he had scheduling conflicts, including overseas work, and had expressed his intention to depart. Lee, however, contends he was asked to leave, highlighting a clear discrepancy between the two accounts.
He also revisited the show’s past “noodle-slurping” bit that drew backlash. “I clearly said I didn’t want to do it, but they pleaded because they’d rented the noodle shop,” he wrote, adding that his on-camera line ― “I’m doing this for laughs!” ― was edited out. “When the controversy erupted, the producers only said they’d been in a rush. I had to shoulder the fallout alone, and my image took a major hit.”
Lee further claimed that another variety program told him he’d appear only via pre-taped VCR segments, but he later learned from news reports that he’d been replaced. He appeared to reference KBS2’s 'The Return of Superman,' from which he stepped down as an MC.
Despite the turmoil, Lee emphasized that his filming schedule remains intact. He recently wrapped the movie “Sedae Yugam” (working title) and said his Vietnamese film, overseas drama, and variety shoots are proceeding as planned. He added, “Once a warrant is issued, the suspect will be identified soon. Even if they’re in Germany, I’ll go there in person to file the complaint. There will be no leniency for malicious commenters.”
Lee closed by thanking fans and colleagues who stood by him, including the teams behind 'I Am Solo,' 'Brave Detectives,' and 'Handsome Guys.'
The controversy began when A posted what were alleged to be KakaoTalk and Instagram DM exchanges with someone presumed to be Lee, featuring requests for explicit photos along with profanity and sexual language. Lee’s agency, Sangyoung ENT, vowed legal action ― after which A apologized, claiming the posts were AI-generated fakes.
What seemed like a resolution didn’t last. A later reversed course on social media, insisting the messages were “not AI.” On the 19th, A wrote, “I said everything was a lie because I was scared ― of being sued, of having to pay money, of burdening my family. I’ve never used AI that way. Everything I posted was real.”
That same day, Lee’s side announced it had filed criminal charges against A for blackmail and defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act, pledging a strong legal response to “malicious acts by the author and distributors” that caused significant harm to the actor and his agency.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)