Lee Yi-kyung's Agency Confirms Legal Action Over Defamation Claims, Denies Settlement

Actor Lee Yi-kyung's agency has announced its firm stance against ongoing defamation allegations, clarifying that no settlement or compensation has been offered or accepted.

The controversy reignited after an individual, identified as Ms. A, initially posted alleged private conversations with Lee Yi-kyung on a blog on the 19th of last month. The post included explicit chat messages, set photos, and selfies, causing significant public attention.

Ms. A initially admitted the content was fabricated, claiming it was a prank and that AI-generated images were used. She apologized for the false accusations.

However, Lee Yi-kyung's agency, Sangyoung ENT, filed a defamation lawsuit against Ms. A on the 3rd of this month. The agency emphasized that there have been no discussions of settlement or any form of compensation.

Just a day after the lawsuit filing, on the 4th, Ms. A reversed her statement on social media. She denied using AI and claimed the initial explanation was false. Ms. A further alleged that she was being portrayed as a victim of wrongdoing and expressed feelings of injustice, hinting at further revelations with suggestive phrases in some posts.

As a consequence of this scandal, Lee Yi-kyung has stepped down from the MBC variety show 'What Do You Play?' and his planned MC role on KBS2's 'The Return of Superman' has been canceled.

Police have received the complaint from the agency and have initiated an investigation to ascertain the facts. The case is expected to be clarified through digital forensic analysis and testimony from Ms. A.

Following the agency's strong legal response, Korean netizens commented, "They need to deal with this decisively without any leniency," and "It's suspicious that she claimed AI and then changed her story." Some expressed sympathy, saying, "No matter the outcome, it must be very upsetting."