On the 21st, the actor’s legal representatives at Hyemyung LLC said they filed a criminal complaint in August against the individual who posted allegedly malicious false content about Park on social media, citing violations of Korea’s Information and Communications Network Act (defamation by false information). Police are currently investigating. “The claim that ‘actor Park Si-hoo introduced a woman to a married man and contributed to the collapse of a family’ is unequivocally false,” the statement read.
According to Park’s side, the situation began when the poster allegedly entered her ex-husband’s home, stole his cellphone, and then edited and distorted saved chat logs and photos before uploading them to social media. The ex-husband also filed a complaint, and police recently referred that case to prosecutors on charges including defamation by false information.
Park’s team added that investigators have already identified the posts as false or distorted. Because the posts about the ex-husband and those about Park were based on the same context and materials, they said, it stands to reason that charges in Park’s case will be recognized as well.
They further warned they will respond without leniency or settlements to baseless rumors and malicious attacks. “We will continue to track down fake news and false claims spread online and pursue severe legal accountability,” the statement said.
Back in August, a social media user alleged Park introduced a woman to her husband, contributing to their marital breakdown, and shared purported text messages and a photo of a woman as “evidence.” The woman pictured publicly refuted the claim, saying she has no connection to anyone mentioned and signaling legal action, while the ex-husband told a media outlet he and Park are simply hometown acquaintances and that he never received any introduction from the actor. Park’s side immediately denied the rumor at the time and said they were preparing civil and criminal measures for defamation. Three months on, his team has provided an update as the investigation continues.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)