A user identified as “A,” who had posted purported private messages with actor Lee Yi-kyung, abruptly apologized just two days after going public.
On Aug. 22, A wrote on X, “Hello, everyone in Korea. As some of you know, I’ve been posting various photos related to actor Lee Yi-kyung. It started as a joke, and I didn’t expect it to get so much attention. As I kept posting and using AI-generated images, I started to believe my own posts,” acknowledging the claims were not true.
A continued, “I’m truly sorry for spreading malicious rumors about Lee. What began as my love for him as a fan turned into emotional overinvestment. Something that started for fun began to feel real, and I feel guilty. If there’s any responsibility I need to take, I will.”
Before the apology, A had uploaded what they said were KakaoTalk chats and Instagram DMs with Lee on a personal blog, featuring explicit language and content that could be construed as sexual harassment.
Lee’s agency responded that the posts were fabricated and alleged the user even demanded money from the actor, adding that legal action was being prepared.
After the agency’s statement, A shared a video that appeared to show Lee’s Instagram account checking DMs. When that post was taken down at another user’s request, A teased further “exposures” on a longtime X account―before reversing course with the apology.
Photo by Baik Seung-Chul
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)