SEOUL, Oct 22 — An anonymous social media user who sparked controversy by posting alleged lewd exposés about South Korean actor Lee Yi-kyung’s private life has now apologised, admitting that the entire scandal “started as a joke,” The Chosun Daily reported today.
The poster, who identified as a German woman known only as A, confessed in a statement that what began as “a fan’s sentiment” spiralled into something harmful.
“I didn’t expect the posts I initially made as a joke to attract so much attention,” A wrote.
“As I continued writing and using AI-generated photos, I began to honestly believe the false narratives myself.”
A added, “I deeply apologise for spreading malicious rumours about actor Lee. I feel guilty because what began as a joke became real.”
Earlier this month, A had uploaded blog posts and images claiming to have exchanged sexually explicit messages with the Marry My Husband star, along with a video that appeared to show a chat history from his official Instagram account.
The content quickly went viral before A deleted the posts and later claimed on X (formerly Twitter), “This isn’t about money. I’m gathering evidence.”
Lee Yi-kyung’s agency, Sangyoung ENT, responded firmly, saying it would pursue legal action over the “false information and malicious rumours” spread online.
A company representative told Chosun.com that the same individual had contacted the agency about five months ago, allegedly demanding money.
After being warned of legal consequences, the matter was resolved only for similar posts to resurface.
Lee, 35, is best known for his roles in hit dramas such as Welcome to Waikiki, Descendants of the Sun, and Critical X. Known for his comedic flair and down-to-earth personality, he’s a familiar face in Korean variety shows as well.
In last year’s hit drama Marry My Husband, Lee played Park Min-hwan, the selfish and unfaithful husband whose betrayal triggers the series’ revenge plot — a performance widely praised for its convincing portrayal of one of K-drama’s most disliked characters.
The actor has not personally commented on the apology, but his agency has said it remains committed to taking all necessary action to protect its artist.
