Filmmaker Kim Ki-duk accused of abusing actress over sex scene
Kim Ki-Duk arrives for the screening of "Moebius" presented out of competition at the 70th Venice Film Festival on Sept. 3, 2013 at Venice Lido. / Korea Times file
By Ko Dong-hwan
Influential filmmaker Kim Ki-duk is Korean prosecutors’ latest target after an actress accused him of sexually abusing her while filming several years ago.
The actress, 41, whose name was withheld, but known to have worked in Kim’s film “Moebius” (2013), recently sued him through the Seoul Central Prosecutors’ Office. Prosecutors then launched an investigation, according to reports Thursday.
The actress didn’t sue until recently because she thought her career could be jeopardized. After she quit acting early this year, she told the Federation of Korea Movie Workers’ Union of the incident and sued Kim.
She said Kim slapped her during the filming in March 2013 to “help her get in the mood” and forced her to perform a sex scene in a way that wasn’t in the script. Embarrassed, she quit the role.
A scene from "Moebius"
The movie’s production staff supported her claim. The union quoted the witnesses as saying Kim slapped the actress “three times” and demanded she grope her co-star’s penis while shooting the scene. She originally believed a replica would be used. She argued with Kim over the scene but eventually gave in.
Kim responded to the accusation. His representative reportedly admitted the slapping, saying Kim “tried to teach her how to act in a physically violent scene.” But he dismissed the sex scene charge.
Kim is one of Asia’s top contemporary directors. He won a Golden Lion at the 69th Venice International Film Festival for “Pieta” (2012), a Silver Lion for Best Director at the 61st Venice International Film Festival for “3-Iron” (2004) and a Silver Bear for Best Director at the 54th Berlin International Film Festival for “Samaria” (2004).