Actor Lee Yi Kyung has broken his silence, taking strong legal action against an individual who spread false rumors about his private life. In a personal statement, the actor also revealed his frustrations with how several television production teams handled the situation, leading to his departure from multiple variety programs.
Taking Legal Action Against False Rumors
On November 21, Lee Yi Kyung posted a lengthy statement on his Instagram account, explaining his recent absence from the public eye. He disclosed that he has officially filed a criminal complaint with the Seoul Gangnam Police Station.
The actor stated that the reason for his delayed response was a request from his agency to refrain from commenting until they had appointed a lawyer and completed filing the complaint. He is suing the individual, who identifies as a German national, for blackmail and defamation for spreading false information.
Lee Yi Kyung expressed his anger over the situation, describing the person as “someone whose identity and existence are unknown” who kept “appearing and disappearing.” He confirmed that his other filming schedules for a Vietnamese film, an overseas drama, and other variety programs are continuing without issue.
The Controversy and Retracted Apology
The controversy began in October 2025, when an individual, referred to as “A,” began posting on social media claiming they would “expose the real Lee Yi Kyung.” The posts included what appeared to be private chat logs and photos containing inappropriate conversations.
Following an official statement from Lee Yi Kyung’s agency, the individual initially apologized. They claimed the posts were meant as a joke and that the photos were fabricated using artificial intelligence (AI), subsequently deleting all the uploaded content.
However, in a reversal on November 19, “A” retracted their apology, stating, “What I alleged was not content fabricated with artificial intelligence (AI), and all of the evidence is true.” This back-and-forth has further complicated the situation, which Lee Yi Kyung is now addressing through the legal system.
Addressing Departure from Variety Shows
The fallout from the allegations significantly impacted Lee Yi Kyung’s television work. He addressed his departure from the popular MBC show Hangout With Yoo, where he had been a regular cast member for three years.
“Although [the poster] admitted their claims were fabricated within a day and then vanished, I was nevertheless advised to step down from a variety show, and we chose to withdraw voluntarily.”
Lee Yi Kyung also mentioned another program, indirectly identified as The Return of Superman. He stated, “I was told I would appear only via a pre-recorded segment, but I learned from news reports that I had been replaced.”
Past Conflict with “Hangout With Yoo” Production
In his statement, Lee Yi Kyung also brought up a past issue with the Hangout With Yoo production team regarding a “noodle-slurping” segment that had previously drawn viewer criticism.
He revealed that he had not wanted to do the segment, but was persuaded because the team had rented a noodle shop for him. He also claimed that his comment—”I’m just doing this for entertainment!”—was edited out from the final broadcast.
“When the controversy later erupted, the production team offered only the absurd excuse that they were in a hurry, and I had to shoulder the fallout entirely on my own, which dealt significant damage to my image.”
In response to his claims, the production team of Hangout With Yoo issued an official statement on November 22. They apologized for the noodle-slurping incident, admitting, “the production team admits that we were negligent in our failure to protect its cast member.” They confirmed that Lee Yi Kyung’s line was indeed cut and acknowledged that their “poor decision” hurt the actor.
Regarding his departure, the production team stated that with rumors circulating, they determined it would be “challenging for him to continue on a variety show that requires delivering laughter every week.” They confirmed they first suggested his departure to his agency, who then agreed to announce it as a voluntary departure due to scheduling conflicts.
A Firm Legal Stance and Gratitude for Support
Lee Yi Kyung concluded his statement with a firm resolve to see the legal process through, regardless of where the suspect is located.
“The suspect will be identified soon after an arrest warrant is issued. Even if the person is in Germany, I will go there in person to file the complaint. There will be no leniency for malicious commenters, either.”
He also took a moment to thank the fans and production teams who continued to support him, specifically naming shows like I Am Solo, Brave Detectives, and The Handsome Guys for believing in him and standing by him during this difficult period.
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