Director-actor Yang Ik-june denies assault allegations, says they are exaggerated
Director and actor Yang Ik-june / Korea Times photo by Woo Da-bin
Director and actor Yang Ik-june has denied allegations that he assaulted a junior colleague, pushing back against claims made in interviews describing the incident.
Yang, who revealed that he is suffering from panic disorder, held a press conference on Wednesday at a cafe in Seongbuk District, Seoul, the same location where the alleged incident took place.
According to police, Yang is accused of striking the colleague, a film crew member, multiple times on the head with a wad of paper and verbally abusing him at a bar he operates in December last year. Following the allegations, Seoul Seongbuk police booked Yang for assault.
Yang, however, maintained he's innocent, previously saying at a press event for his film "Confession" that he was simply having a friendly conversation with the colleague.
At the press conference, Yang expressed frustration over how the case has unfolded. "[My junior colleague's] statements keep coming out in the media, while my response at the 'Confession' press event was limited to a few lines," he said. "[My junior colleague] has distorted facts in his statements to the police, media and prosecutors. This cafe is where I work, and I have a duty to clarify my position."
Yang claimed that he had already reconciled with the colleague through mediation.
"I took responsibility and sought reconciliation, believing it was the right thing to do. The colleague signed a settlement agreement but refuses to withdraw the case and insists on taking it to trial."
Yang said that media reports labeling him as an assailant had severely impacted his mental state. "Articles kept coming out saying I assaulted a junior colleague. It felt like I was losing my mind. Over the past three weeks, I’ve learned a lot. Even after we reconciled, He kept making demands. I had no choice but to respond," Yang said. "If I have committed a crime, I will take responsibility. But I will not be manipulated by his intentions."
Details of the alleged incident
Yang said that he met the man in 2023 through a small independent film group consisting of seven members. He said he later offered the colleague a teaching position after learning of his financial struggles and even lent him 450,000 won ($310).
Director and actor Yang Ik-june / Korea Times photo by Woo Da-bin
The alleged assault took place in December last year when they met again at Yang's bar, with about nine people present.
Yang insisted that the venue was cramped and that he merely tapped the colleague's head lightly with a small memo pad of about 15 pages, contradicting the man's claim that it was a stack of 30 A4-sized sheets.
Three days later, the man called Yang late at night, shouting, "Why did you hit me? I feel humiliated!" Yang said, "I was terrified. I apologized immediately because I didn’t want any conflict."
Yang said he later received a police summons while in Japan. "I had no idea what was happening. Then I saw the news. The media reported that I hit him multiple times and verbally abused him. It was absurd."
According to Yang, a mutual acquaintance mediated between the two parties in February. The colleague initially expressed willingness to drop the charges in exchange for Yang admitting to hitting him with paper during the prosecution’s investigation. His settlement proposal also included a demand for Yang to apologize for defaming him during a press event.
Yang initially rejected the terms but later met with him again on Feb. 18. "We met with smiles, but then he warned me to prepare for trial," Yang said. "I was stunned. He said that settlements and investigations are separate matters. It became clear that this case was not going to end easily."
Yang expressed frustration over the situation, saying that he had "already apologized and reconciled" with the colleague. "I even apologized during our last meeting. But I cannot understand what is happening now. If the court finds me guilty despite my testimony, I will accept the punishment. But I cannot accept this situation. He keeps twisting my words, implying that things could escalate further."
Yang debuted as an actor with the 2002 film "No Manners" and gained recognition as a director with the 2009 film "Breathless." He has since appeared in dramas such as "It’s Okay, That’s Love," "Queen of Mystery," "Bad Guys" and "Hellbound." In February, he greeted audiences with the Japanese film "Confession."
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.