A file picture shows Lee Hyun-ju, a lesbian film director speaking at a domestic movie award event. [Yonhap News Photo]
SEOUL, Feb. 08 (Aju News) -- Lee Hyun-ju, a prize-winning lesbian director known for her Queer movie "Our Lover Story", announced her permanent departure from South Korea's movie industry Thursday, apologizing for forced sexual relations with a film academy classmate.
Lee, 36, acknowledged her wrongdoing in 2015 when she stayed overnight with her drunken colleague woman studying together at the Korean Academy of Film Arts, which provides professional training to young filmmakers.
"I feel sorry for causing great shocks and breaking hearts of filmmakers and fans," she said in a statement. "I will not do any more movies to take responsibility for this."
The supreme court sentenced Lee to two years in prison with a stay of execution for three years on quasi-rape charges, but the sex scandal erupted only after the victim revealed her unwanted relations with Lee. Initially, Lee argued she had sex on consent while the victim insisted she was intoxicated and helpless at the time.
"Our Lover Story", a 2016 romantic drama film written and directed by Lee, depicts an LGBT love story about an awkward and shy fine arts student who meets the eccentric bartender while searching for materials for a project installation.
Lee was decorated with the best new director at the prestigious Blue Dragon Film Awards in November last year, but her award was canceled. An association of filmmakers expelled Lee.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
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