Actors Lee Jang-woo and On Ju-wan have come forward to deny rumors that they were the subjects of a whistleblower's claim that a male celebrity, soon to be married, had given his ex-girlfriend 8 million won as hush money.
On the 29th, a post surfaced on the anonymous community Blind, titled "My ex-boyfriend's agency sent me 8 million won." The author, identified only as A, claimed, "My ex-boyfriend is planning to reveal his wedding preparations with his new girlfriend on a variety show. Since the broadcast could potentially air before our breakup date, his agency preemptively transferred me 8 million won as a consolation payment."
A added, "This essentially means he was either cheating or leading a double life. Isn't sending money to keep me quiet essentially hush money? I'm contemplating whether to return the 8 million won."
The post quickly went viral, leading to rampant speculation about the identity of the male celebrity involved. A's mention that the actor was "a well-known actor in his 30s" led to the name 'Lee Jang-woo' being floated around, among others.
In response, Lee Jang-woo took to Instagram on the 30th to state, "It's not me. Please stop calling. I'm trying to work," in a brief but firm denial.
Similarly, On Ju-wan's representatives were quick to address the rumors. His agency, HAEWADAL Entertainment, declared, "The allegations are completely unrelated to On Ju-wan. We categorically deny them."
Both actors are set to marry later this year, making them susceptible to being targeted by such rumors. Lee Jang-woo is engaged to actress Jo Hye-won, while On Ju-wan is in a relationship with Girl's Day/actress Mina, with both couples having announced their wedding plans.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)