Lee Sang-min Allegedly Avoids Reunion with Ex-Wife Lee Hye-young, Colleagues Reveal

Lee Sang-min's colleagues have revealed that he deliberately avoided a reunion with his ex-wife, Lee Hye-young.

On the October 6th episode of SBS's variety show 'But Seriously!', comedian Shin Dong-yup appeared as a guest on a terrestrial talk show for the first time in 15 years.

During the show, Shin Dong-yup mentioned a broadcast reunion with his pre-marriage girlfriend, Lee So-ra, and commented, "It's usually right to act like Lee Sang-min," which left Lee Sang-min flustered.

Shin Dong-yup continued, "During the filming of 'Knowing Bros,' Lee Hye-young was in a different studio on the same floor," and added, "When Lee Hye-young went to the waiting room to say hello, didn't you hide?" Lee Sang-min denied the claim, saying, "Absolutely not."

Tak Jae-hoon chimed in, "I met Lee Hye-young that day. She asked where Lee Sang-min was, saying she came to see him. I told her he was in the waiting room, but she came back saying, 'He wasn't there.' Where did you hide when there was nowhere to hide?"

Shin Dong-yup remarked, "I feel like I shouldn't hide cowardly like Sang-min," to which Lee Sang-min waved his hands and said, "It's something that can happen anywhere." When Lee Soo-ji suggested inviting Lee Hye-young as a guest next week, Lee Sang-min avoided answering.

Tak Jae-hoon further asked, "Did you tear out the page of your time with Lee Hye-young?" Lee Sang-min confessed, "The period of hardship in between was too difficult."

Lee Sang-min and Lee Hye-young dated for eight years before marrying in June 2004, only to divorce by mutual consent 14 months later. However, Lee Hye-young later filed a police report claiming Lee Sang-min forced her to take nude photos and caused her financial damages totaling 2.2 billion won, including contract fees and profits. Issues such as unauthorized car purchases and various debts were also raised.

In response, Lee Sang-min held a press conference stating, "Lee Hye-young's nude photos were her own decision, and of the 2.2 billion won she demanded, 1.3 billion won is my responsibility," adding, "I will repay it and seek an amicable resolution." After repaying 1 billion won in debt and resolving seizures, Lee Hye-young withdrew all lawsuits.

Last April, Lee Sang-min registered his marriage with a non-celebrity 10 years his junior.

Tae Yuna, Ten Asia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr