Actor Lee Yi-kyung (36) has faced a major crisis in his broadcasting career because he has become the center of a private life controversy. Even though his agency officially stated the allegations are false, the accuser's side has repeatedly posted and deleted additional messages, prolonging the dispute over the truth. Above all, since his family's faces were already publicly shown nationwide through television appearances, the weight of the private life controversy is not light.
On the 21st, a person identified as A, suspected to be the individual who raised allegations about Lee Yi-kyung's private life, reappeared on online communities and social media. He said, "I demanded money but never actually received it," and asserted, "My purpose was to prevent other women from experiencing the same thing." He also introduced himself as "a German who is not fluent in Korean."
Earlier, A posted a message titled "I reveal Lee Yi-kyung's bare face" and released screenshots of conversations he claimed were with the actor, but the post was soon deleted. However, some content spread in screenshot form and the controversy grew, and within a day he uploaded a video to social media as "additional evidence" and then deleted it again, creating further confusion.
Lee Yi-kyung's agency, Sangyoung ENT, emphasized, "All the content currently circulating online is false, and we will respond strongly through legal action for defamation and the dissemination of false information." The agency added, "The poster previously demanded money along with similar false accusations. After admitting the falsehood and sending an apology email, the poster has repeated the same claims."
In response, internet users said, "It's absurd that someone who already apologized would make the same accusations again," and "Claiming to be a foreigner to undermine credibility seems like a deliberate calculation." Meanwhile, cautious voices continued, saying, "Because the issue has grown, the agency should also resolve it with clear evidence." This incident has been cited as an example of how quickly and widely personal accusations on social media can spread and be distorted. Especially as AI synthesis technology has become widespread, doubts have been raised about the authenticity of the initially released conversations and videos.
Above all, Lee Yi-kyung attracted attention as a "family-style actor" last year when he shared stories about his older sister, brother-in-law and father on the MBC variety show Hangout With Yoo's Chuseok special. On the program he joked, "My father is a former CEO of a major company, so he stubbornly refused to appear saying, 'I have golf,'" which became a topic of conversation. Because his family's faces and backgrounds had already been revealed, this private life controversy is a greater burden for him. At the same time, because he had disclosed his family on television, there are also reactions saying, "There's no way Lee Yi-kyung would do that."
As an actor who has been steadily loved while moving between variety shows and drama, public interest is focused on how Lee Yi-kyung will overcome this controversy and what outcome the false accusation allegations will lead to.
[Photo] OSEN DB, broadcast screen
[OSEN]