Actor Lee apologizes for blackmail scandal

Actor Lee Byung-hun introduces his upcoming film “Memories of the Sword” at a theater in eastern Seoul, Friday. / Yonhap

By Baek Byung-yeul

Actor Lee Byung-hun officially apologized Friday for the blackmail scandal he caused.

“The reason why I exist as actor Lee Byung-hun is because of all your care,” Lee told reporters with a quivering voice before introducing his new film, “Memories of the Sword,” at a theater in eastern Seoul. “I am still repenting and I am feeling more remorseful than ever.

“I fully acknowledge that those disappointments (that my fans have felt) won’t be forgotten with only a few apologies. But I will do my best to pay off the disappointment."

The star, 45, has been at the center of a blackmail scandal. In September, Lee sued a fashion model and a female singer for blackmailing him with a video clip showing the three exchanging lewd jokes. Lee denied he had any sexual relations with the two women.

Although Lee won the law suit as the court gave the two blackmailers a suspended jail term, Lee was criticized for being involved in such a scandal while his actress wife Lee Min-jung was pregnant. The couple now have a 4-month-old son.

This was his first public appearance since the scandal. Though Lee was also featured in the latest "Terminator: Genisys" franchise, he has been avoiding local media. When actor Arnold Schwarzenegger and actress Emilia Clarke came to Korea to promote the Hollywood blockbuster earlier this month, Lee did not appear, saying he had landed another Hollywood role in “The Magnificent Seven” alongside Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke.

After unveiling a seven-minute preview of “Memories of the Sword,” Lee also apologized to the cast and crew involved in making the film.

“The film should have screened earlier, but it couldn’t,” Lee said. “I don’t know how to express my apologies to the filmmakers.”

The film was originally scheduled to hit local screens in December, but distributor Lotte Entertainment delayed it due to Lee's scandal.

Directed and scripted by Park Heung-shik, “Memories of the Sword” revolves around three sword masters, set in the ancient Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392).

In the martial arts film, Lee stars as Deok-gi, who makes his way to become one of the most powerful men in the kingdom after betraying his kin, including Seol-rang (played by Jeon Do-yeon).

Turning her back to the world, Seol-rang disappears with an infant girl fathered by one of her warriors. When the girl turns 18, Seol-rang tells her daughter how her father died. The now-grown female warrior named Hong-ee (played by Kim Go-eun) takes revenge on Deok-gi.

The film, which also features K-pop boy band 2PM’s Junho as a supporting actor, will hit screens on Aug. 13.