Celebrities in 'forbidden' affairs

From top left are Lee Mi-sook, Kim Ji-soo, Baek Ji-young and Kim Ka-yeon, who surprised the public by allegedly having affairs with men significantly younger than them. / Korea Times file

By Park Si-soo

Everything has its good and bad side. Korean entertainers are not an exception.

While some are bursting onto the showbiz scene beyond our borders on the back of an international boom in Korean pop culture, others are embroiled in nasty incidents of some sort, including sex scandals and bloody fights.

The latter aspect has been relatively little known to overseas fans of Korean pop culture because of linguistic barriers and limited access to content published by local media outlets.

As implied by its title, “Bare naked Korean culture,” this section is meant to ease that imbalance. To blame may be too blunt. Nevertheless, in the belief that it will help bolster the right to know of overseas K-culture fans, this section will tell what has happened in the nation’s showbiz industry without sugar-coating.

The first story of this section is about a “cougar” and a “sugar daddy” in the Korean showbiz industry.

Cougars are defined as older women who seek “romantic” relations with significantly younger men. By this definition, at least, veteran actress Lee Mi-sook deserves to be called a cougar without doubt.

Actor Lee Byung-hun has earned the nickname “sugar daddy” by dating several much younger women, including actress Song Hye-kyo. The 43-year-old is currently seeing actress Lee Min-jung, who is 31. / Korea Times file

The 53-year-old, who made her debut in 1978 in a Miss Korea pageant, hit the headlines last year for allegations she had an “inappropriate” relationship with a man 17 years younger.

Rumor has it Lee first met the unidentified man in 2006 at an upscale bar open exclusively to women, where he worked as a bartender. Back then she was still legally married — they split in 2007 — which means a sexual relationship between her and the young man, if any, constituted adultery, which is punishable under the law.

Lee fought back against what she called rumormongers with legal action, filing a defamation suit against two journalists and the boss of her management agency and seeking 1 billion won ($919,000) in compensation in a separate suit.

The case received more attention after one of the accused journalists revealed, during the trial in October, a hand-written letter the man sent to Lee, explaining their relationship.

In the letter, the man expressed gratitude for the actress’s “psychological and financial” help while he was studying in the United States.

“We first got to know each other when I was in the U.S. for studying,” he said in the letter. “I want to thank her for giving me much psychological and financial help. What is regrettable is that I sought more when I got deeper in trouble. I promise I will never say or do anything that may tarnish her name.”

The man didn’t elaborate on the job he had when the two met first or whether they had a sexual relationship.

In January, the court ruled in favor of the accused, saying no solid evidence was found to judge the allegations against Lee were false. Early this month, Lee dropped her damages suit, wrapping up the tit-for-tat that continued for more than a year.

Other female celebrities eligible to be called cougars include actress Kim Ji-soo and singer Baek Ji-young.

The 41-year-old Kim surprised the public in March last year by confessing through her Facebook account that she was in love with Roy Kim, who was sixteen years younger than her. Three months later, she made public a photo with him.

Baek is 38, and her boyfriend, actor Chung Seok-won, is nine years younger.

Actress Kim Ka-yeon, 41, the divorced mother of a daughter, is also known for her long-term relationship with her 33-year-old fiancé, Lim Yo-hwan, a professional gamer.

Actor Lee Byung-hun may be one of a few male celebrities eligible to be called a “sugar daddy.” Sugar daddies are defined as men who lavish money or gifts on their young female companions.

The 43-year-old is well-known for dating several young top actresses and athletes, among others, including actress Song Hye-kyo. Currently he is seeing

actress Lee Min-jung.