Actor Lee Yi-kyung spoke out directly about the personal life rumor one month later. He said he was filled with rage during the period when he had to remain silent, and, pouring out his frustration, expressed both his grievances and disappointment toward the variety shows he had appeared on.
The rumor about Lee Yi-kyung's personal life began on the 20th of last month with an allegation by a person identifying as German, A. Two days after alternating between deletion and disclosure, A apologized saying, "It started as a joke," and although the controversy seemed to be settling, Lee Yi-kyung's side announced they had sued A and made clear a hard-line stance, saying, "there has been no agreement."
In the meantime, Lee Yi-kyung suffered tangible damage. He voluntarily withdrew from Hangout With Yoo while the show was off the air without even being able to say a personal farewell, and his planned debut as the first unmarried MC on The Return of SUPERMAN fell through, forcing him to part with two programs. The damage to his image as an actor goes without saying.
On the 19th, while his agency released a third statement, Lee Yi-kyung also spoke directly a month after the controversy began. He said, "A few days ago I visited Gangnam Police Station in Seoul and underwent a complainant testimony investigation. I conveyed my position on the rumors and completed the complaint procedures for threats and defamation by false information," adding, "I was filled with rage at every moment. A person claiming to be German, whose identity and existence I do not know, kept appearing and disappearing as if they had sent threatening emails to the agency months ago, and the agency once again tried to calm me down by saying there was no reason to contest the falsehoods."
Lee Yi-kyung said, "The reason I did not speak out about my position until now was because the agency asked me to refrain from commenting until a lawyer was appointed and the criminal complaint against the distributor was completed," explaining why he had not been able to disclose his position earlier.
Lee Yi-kyung emphasized that his departure from his variety shows was not his wish. Regarding his exit from Hangout With Yoo, he explained, "They called it manipulation and it disappeared within a day, but because of that I was urged to leave the variety show and we chose to withdraw voluntarily." He accused the production of further wrongdoing, saying, "During a previous controversy over the face-pressing incident, I clearly said I did not want to do it, but they borrowed a noodle shop because of me and asked, and my line, 'It's being done as a variety show!' was edited out. After the controversy flared, the production only offered an absurd excuse that they were in a hurry, leaving the controversy entirely to me to bear, and my image suffered great damage."
Regarding the failed appearance on The Return of SUPERMAN, he said, "I was told it would be done only via VCR, but I learned from the articles that I had been replaced."
While Lee Yi-kyung conveyed resentment and disappointment toward Hangout With Yoo, which urged him to leave, and The Return of SUPERMAN, which announced his replacement, he expressed gratitude to I'm SOLO, Handsome Guys, and Brave Detective for believing in him.
Lee Yi-kyung said, "As for the ending you are curious about, after warrants are issued the suspect will soon be identified. Even if they are in Germany, I will go to Germany in person to submit the complaint. There will be no mercy for malicious commenters either," showing his determination to restore his honor.
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