Lee Yi Kyung's accuser admits screenshots were fabricated and were uploaded 'as a joke'
Actor Lee Yi-kyung's accuser has confessed that the alleged sexually explicit text messages were fake, having been generated by AI.
She explained on Wednesday that the posts were initially intended "as a joke," but she began to get "emotionally involved" as she continued to share the posts, reports said.
"I’m truly sorry for spreading malicious rumors about actor Yi-kyung," the user said, as per Korea JoongAng Daily. "It started with me simply admiring [Lee] as a fan, but over time I found myself getting emotionally involved."
The user said she will "take responsibility if there is any part of the [rumor spreading] that I'm responsible for."
On Monday, screenshots of a private conversation allegedly containing lewd messages between Lee and a non-celebrity woman surfaced online.
These screenshots, reportedly taken from KakaoTalk and Instagram, contain sexually suggestive remarks and allegedly show Lee asking the woman for explicit photos, along with Lee’s name and his selfies.
Following the controversy, Sangyoung Entertainment, Lee’s agency, immediately took legal action, stating that the circulating screenshots were false and based on “lies and malicious rumors spreading online.”
“We are preparing to take legal measures and will pursue all possible actions depending on the severity of the situation and the direct or indirect damage caused,” the agency said in a statement.
“Uploading or reposting such content may also result in legal action, not only against the original uploader. We ask everyone to exercise caution to prevent unnecessary harm. We will continue to protect our artists to the best of our ability through our monitoring and efforts, and reports from fans.”
The agency also revealed that the woman behind the post had allegedly been blackmailing them for almost five months, demanding money.
According to the agency, the woman is a German national who has been studying Korean for eight years.
However, the woman denied the accusation in a follow-up post, writing, “Hello, this is the account that uploaded the post about Lee Yi-kyung earlier. I’m seeing rumors that I asked for money, but that’s not true. I once asked if it was possible to get help, but I never received any money.”
She further explained that she shared the screenshots to warn others, saying she only posted them “so that other women wouldn’t go through the same thing.”
The screenshots post was taken down under Article 44-2 South Korea’s Information and Communications Network Act following a legal request from Lee’s agency.
Lee Yi-kyung began his career in 2012 with the queer film White Night and went on to appear in various independent films and television shows, including supporting roles. He continued to rise in popularity throughout the 2010s, gaining wider recognition for his performances in hit dramas such as My Love from the Star, Descendants of the Sun, Welcome to Waikiki, and, most recently, Marry My Husband.
