This is the actor's first public appearance since the family of the late actress accused him of maintaining a six-year relationship with her, which reportedly began when she was underage. The allegations were made last month via a quasi-news YouTube channel.
In a tearful statement, Kim clarified, “I dated Kim Sae-ron for about a year after she came of age. I never had a relationship with her when she was a minor,” adding, “I cannot apologize for something I did not do.”
But Kim apologized for previously denying the relationship when the actress shared a photo of them together on Instagram about a year ago. He acknowledged, “I understand why you would criticize my choice at that time, which is why I understand why you might not believe me now.”
At the end of the press event, Kim's lawyer announced that the actor has filed criminal defamation charges against the actress’s family and the YouTube channel. Kim has also filed a civil lawsuit seeking 12 billion won (US $8.17 million) in damages for reputational harm.
The actor has lost several major brand endorsements since the accusations surfaced, and his upcoming show on the Disney Plus channel has been indefinitely postponed.
The event concluded without a Q&A session, as Kim's lawyer said that the scandal is now under criminal investigation.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
View more comments