Actor Lee Yi-kyung Faces Controversy Amidst Personal Life Rumors

Actor Lee Yi-kyung is embroiled in controversy due to rumors about his personal life. The public is demanding the truth through comments on his social media. Some netizens focus on the fact that the accuser allegedly demanded money, suggesting the accuser is at fault. Others bring up Lee's past DUI incident, casting doubt on him.

On the 19th, a German woman, referred to as A, claimed she exchanged sexually explicit messages with Lee Yi-kyung and posted a blog titled 'Exposing the Real Lee Yi-kyung.' The post quickly spread on X (formerly Twitter), containing inappropriate content allegedly from Lee, asking about A's breast size and requesting explicit photos.

As the situation escalated, A deleted her post. However, Lee Yi-kyung's agency announced legal action against her, claiming she had previously demanded money from Lee about five months ago. A countered on the 21st, stating, "I asked for 500,000 won last year because I was short on money. I intended to repay it. I haven't asked for anything since."

The public remains divided, observing the situation as both sides present conflicting claims. Some entertainment industry insiders suggest, "Given the sensitivity of the issue, it's important to wait until the facts are clear."
"In Korea, that's called a 'gold digger,'" some claim
A's use of Korean in her blog and messages is somewhat awkward. She explained, "I've been self-studying Korean for eight years. I'm not a scammer; I'm genuinely German." She added, "I didn't expect this to escalate so much."

Some netizens criticized, "Why expose someone else's private life while asking not to touch yours?" Others questioned, "Why did you ask for money? In Korea, that's called a 'gold digger.'" Another commented, "With AI-generated videos these days, let's not believe things too easily."

A legal expert stated, "If A lied, it's a clear criminal act. If the rumors involve sexual content or cause significant distress, it could lead to arrest and investigation."
Others say, "It's hard to trust Lee Yi-kyung"
Some argue, "Lee Yi-kyung has a history of bad behavior, like DUI, making him hard to trust." In 2013, Lee was caught for drunk driving in Seoul's Songpa District. He had used a designated driver to reach his home in Jamsil but was caught during a sobriety check after dismissing the driver near his residence.

Some netizens also pointed out, "Lee Yi-kyung's friendship with Jung Joon-young, who was expelled from the entertainment industry in 2019 due to the 'Burning Sun scandal,' makes him hard to trust. Birds of a feather flock together." In an interview that year, Lee mentioned his close ties with rapper Loco, Woo Won-jae, Gray, former Highlight member Yong Jun-hyung, and Jung Joon-young, with whom he traveled abroad in 2018.

Lee Yi-kyung's agency, Sangyoung ENT, stated on its official social media account, "We are preparing legal action against the spread of false information and malicious rumors. We will take all necessary measures based on the severity of the situation."

Reporter Jung Da-yeon, TenAsia light@tenasia.co.kr