Lee Yi-kyung's Private Life Scandal Escalates into 'Truth Battle' Amid Legal Action Threats

Actor Lee Yi-kyung is embroiled in a swirling controversy surrounding his private life, which has moved beyond mere allegations to a full-blown 'truth battle.'

Lee's agency, Sangyoung ENT, has vehemently denied the claims, labeling them as 'outright false information' and announcing legal action. However, the accuser is pushing back, releasing video evidence and further explanations.

The situation ignited on the 20th when a post titled 'Exposing the Real Lee Yi-kyung' appeared on an online community. The author, identified as A, shared KakaoTalk chat screenshots, claiming they were with the actor. The messages allegedly contained inappropriate remarks and requests for nude photos, though the identity of the person in the chat remains unverified.

Sangyoung ENT swiftly refuted the accusations. The agency stated, 'The content recently posted and circulated on online communities and social media is false information, and we are preparing legal action against the damages caused by these malicious rumors.' They added, 'We will calculate the extent of damages from the spread of false information and take all necessary measures.'

In response, A insisted they never demanded money and posted the information hoping other women wouldn't face similar situations. Addressing accusations of financial demands, A clarified, 'I asked if he could lend me 500,000 won briefly last year, but I never actually received it.' A also identified as a 'German whose Korean is not perfect' and stated, 'I am not a scammer. I didn't know things would escalate this much.'

A further fueled the controversy by uploading additional 'evidence,' including a video scrolling through Lee Yi-kyung's official social media account. A claimed it was from the 'real account' but verification of the account owner's activity or the context of the conversation remains pending.

Experts emphasize the critical importance of verifying the authenticity of shared materials in the era of rapidly spreading SNS-based privacy exposés. Screenshots and videos are easily edited or manipulated, and their truthfulness cannot be determined without authentication or metadata analysis.

The agency has announced legal action against both the original poster and those spreading the content, stating, 'Not only the posting but also the indiscriminate distribution is subject to legal action.' They pledged to 'do our best to protect our artist through fan tips and our own monitoring.'

Until the truth is clearly established, it is crucial to withhold unilateral convictions or definitive judgments. Unverified allegations and subsequent defamation can lead to further human rights violations.

Korean netizens are urging caution, with comments like 'We need to wait and see what the truth is,' 'Let's not jump to conclusions,' and 'We need to hear both the agency's and the accuser's sides.' Some netizens believe that 'if the evidence is clear, legal action is absolutely necessary.'