Actor Lee Yi-kyung (36) has claimed past fraud victimization, and now the emergence of online exposés about him has amplified the fallout. But his agency strongly denied the claims as "false information dissemination" and announced plans for legal action, bringing the controversy into a new phase.
On the 20th, Sangyoung ENT, Lee Yi-kyung's agency, released an official statement saying, "All content recently posted and circulated on online communities and social media is not true," and added, "We are preparing legal measures against the dissemination of false information and malicious rumors that have caused damage."
The exposé spread after an internet user posted what they called "conversations with Lee Yi-kyung," along with screenshots of some explicit messages. The post was soon deleted, but screenshots remained and spread quickly across various communities and social media, escalating the controversy.
In response, the agency said the author of the post had engaged in similar behavior in the past. A representative said, "The poster already sent a stitched-together version of the same content to the company email months ago demanding money," and added, "At that time they acknowledged the content was false and even sent an apology email, but recently posted the same false content online again." Accordingly, the author is presumed to be residing overseas, and the possibility that the exposé is false is gaining weight.
As a result, the controversy is spreading beyond simple rumor to an apparent "malicious threat" or "repeated false dissemination" issue.
Lee Yi-kyung had been actively engaged in broadcasting activities until recently. However, there is concern that his broadcast activities could be impeded by the spread of rumors. Among internet users, reactions of sympathy and support have continued, such as "It's sad that Lee Yi-kyung is involved in this again," "If it's not true, this is at the level of defamation," and "He's an actor who has worked hard; this is too harsh."
Especially as Lee Yi-kyung's personal hardships became known, fans' sympathy has grown. Earlier, on Feb. 2, he appeared on the tvN STORY program "100-billion-won breakfast" and admitted, "I have a 500 million won loan. I feel suffocated." He candidly confessed his financial difficulties, saying, "I was defrauded by a bad investment and I pay 200,000 won in interest every month," which became a topic of interest.
Despite that, he has consistently shown dedication by appearing in dramas and variety shows. For that reason, some internet users reacted, "It seems nothing but bad things keep happening," "I sincerely hope his mental state is okay," and "If it's not true, it must be corrected immediately."
Ultimately, this matter remains one that must be clearly determined whether it is a false exposé or another repeated misunderstanding. The agency said it is "assessing the scale of direct and indirect damages in recognition of the seriousness of the matter, and not only the author but also reckless distributors will be subject to legal action," emphasizing and announcing a tough response, so it is likely the truth will be determined in court. Public attention is focused on whether Lee Yi-kyung can again clear his undeserved stigma and continue active work.
[Photo] OSEN DB
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