On Nov. 19, Lee’s agency Sangyoung ENT said it has filed criminal complaints against the poster for alleged blackmail and defamation under Korea’s Information and Communications Network Act. The company explained that it became aware of the matter on Nov. 3 and promptly submitted a complaint; the complainant interview has been completed, but it may take time for investigators to identify the suspect and conclude the case. The agency added that its legal team is closely tracking the process and cooperating to expedite results.
Calling the damage to the actor and the company “severe,” the agency stressed it will pursue the case without leniency―even if it takes time―and will seek accountability both in and outside Korea. It also urged the public to report malicious posts and distributors.
The controversy began when an individual, identified only as “A,” uploaded screenshots of alleged KakaoTalk and Instagram DM exchanges with a person presumed to be Lee, claiming the messages included explicit requests and profanity. After Sangyoung ENT announced it would take legal action, A issued an apology, saying the content was fabricated with AI and expressing regret for spreading rumors.
But the saga didn’t end there. A later reversed course on social media, insisting the posts were not AI-generated and saying they had initially lied out of fear of legal trouble and financial repercussions for their family. On Nov. 19, A claimed “every piece of evidence was real,” reigniting the dispute.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)