Actor Lee Byung-hun films the KBS drama “Iris” at Gwanghwamun Plaza on Nov. 29. He is being sued by his estranged girlfriend, but his agency is denying all allegations. / Korea Times |
Iris Hero Lee Byung-hun Under Siege
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
It's like opening the proverbial can of worms. As soon as his estranged girlfriend sued Lee Byung-hun ― the actor of IRIS and G.I. Joe fame with a following of millions in Asia alone ― the Internet was inundated with other unsavory allegations. Considering that the Internet is open not only to truths but also to half-truths and untruths, it would be fair to give Lee the benefit of the doubt.
But the lawsuit still stands. Lee has been, more or less, free of serious scandals. His love affair with a famous actress appeared to be well stage-managed but gave his fans the impression that the 39-year-old is a person who knows how to behave, considering the way they broke up.
But the lawsuit presages what's in store. Perhaps Lee is not the cool guy fans want to believe him to be. Perhaps he has dirty laundry just like everybody else. His fans hope against hope that the allegations are not true. Somewhere in their hearts, premonitions reign. What if all these allegations are true?
Maybe it is less about Lee than the fans and their fantasies.
The allegations still are dealing a devastative blow to his reputation at home and abroad, and his worth as an entertainer.
Sparked by a damages lawsuit a former gymnast filed Wednesday against the 39-year-old, the scandal took a fresh spin Thursday as the woman, who described herself as Lee's former girlfriend, alleged that the actor had engaged in illegal gambling in the United States and Canada.
Denying all allegations, Lee's management agency pledged a stern counteraction.
According to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors'Office, the woman ― reportedly a 22-year-old Kwon with a Canadian passport ― told prosecutors that Lee habitually gambled illegally during visits to the Western countries to film. The exact time and location of the alleged illegal activities have yet to be determined.
The prosecution plans to summon and question Kwon in the near future and, if deemed necessary, will call in the actor as well.
The new allegation against the actor came one day after the self-proclaimed former lover sued her "ex-boyfriend," demanding 100 million won in compensation.
According to sources familiar with the case, she told the Seoul Central District Court the accused had conned her into bed under a false promise of marriage and then dumped her, causing her significant mental and physical damage.
The alleged victim used to be a member of the Canadian national gymnastics team and met Lee while he was on a promotion tour for "The Good, The Bad, The Weird," a movie in which he starred.
A news report quoted her saying, "Lee abused his popularity and fame to seduce me and then dumped me out."
Lee's agency, BH Entertainment, Thursday denied all the allegations she raised, saying "All allegations against Lee are apparently to damage his reputation by those with malicious intent. We will try to shed light on the truth with all the measures we have."
In a statement, the agency said Lee peacefully separated from his girlfriend in the spring, but an unidentified man has contacted the agency several times since last month to extort two billion won in exchange for keeping their love story a secret.
"Lee has never committed any act that deserves to be criticized," the agency said.
Hundreds of news reports about the scandal have made headlines on major portals here. Also, countless stories based on unidentified sources are also causing a stir in cyber space, leading to nasty rumors regarding his past.
One Internet posting stands out, reading: "No smoke without fire."
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