Actor Lee Yi Kyung, 36, is at the center of yet another twist in an escalating controversy over his private life. The woman who first accused him―identified only as “A”―has reversed course again, saying her earlier claim that her posts were AI-generated “pranks” was a lie and insisting her evidence is real.
On Nov. 19, A posted what she called her “final” statement on her personal account, writing, “I’m truly sorry for the confusion my posts caused. I said everything was a lie because I was scared―worried about being sued, having to pay money, and putting pressure on my family.”
She continued, “AI can’t make photos of celebrities, and I never used it like that. All the things I uploaded were real.” Even so, she added that she didn’t want to reamplify the scandal, saying she spoke up again out of concern that any other potential victims might be dismissed as “AI” and further harmed.
It’s not the first time A has changed her story. After releasing what she said were KakaoTalk and DM exchanges with Lee, she backpedaled as the uproar grew, calling the posts an AI-manipulated prank.
When Lee’s camp signaled a strong legal response, A deleted her posts―then returned to social media, writing, “Thinking about reposting the proofs… It wasn’t AI and this is so frustrating,” and “It upsets me to see a bad guy turned into a victim,” hinting she would keep pushing the matter.
Lee’s agency, Sangyoung ENT, has called the allegations “entirely false” and said it is preparing legal action. The company also claimed the poster previously stitched together similar messages and attempted to extort money from the agency, later admitting the claims were fabricated and sending an apology email.
Amid the ongoing dispute, Lee recently exited MBC’s "Hangout with Yoo" and was quietly dropped from the upcoming MC lineup for KBS2’s "The Return of Superman," heightening fans’ concern. Producers cited “scheduling conflicts,” but the unresolved rumors have continued to fuel confusion.
SBS Entertainment News asked Lee’s agency to confirm A’s latest assertions―including her tease about posting a “proof photo” in a specific color outfit and her claim that she has never been sued―but the company did not respond.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)