Lee Byung-hun speaks to fans about lawsuit

Actor Lee Byung-hun, who has been sued by a woman claiming Lee duped her with false promises of marriage, spoke on the issue for the first time through a handwritten letter to fans.

"I don't know how I should start this...... My agency and attorney did not want me to, but I'm writing this because I think many of you may be concerned," the 39-year-old actor said in the letter scanned and posted on his official website on Sunday.

He then addressed the complaint filed by the woman, a Korean-Canadian identified by her last name Kwon, saying that "the detailed truths to the distorted facts that are currently out in the world and other stories which may surface in the future will all be revealed through legal processes, no matter how long it takes."

"But what's more important is the sad reality that what should have been left as a special and dear memory has now taken on a unfavorable sight and the heartbreaking truth that two people who once cared for each other, have come to such a situation, whatever the reason," Lee said, officially confirming Kwon's claim that two had been in a romantic relationship.

He finished the letter by apologizing for causing concern, adding he will continue to fulfill his responsibility as an actor as best he can. "I will try to be indifferent about this. I hope you will too. I remain where I was -- I am not faltering.

Earlier in the day, Newsis and a couple media outlets revealed a photograph the former couple had taken together in front of a condominium at a ski resort in Gangwon Province late last year.

Lee's legal representatives at Kim & Chang filed a suit of libel against Kwon and related figures for exposing the photo which Kwon was said to have released to the press as proof of her claims.

Kwon had lodged an initial complaint to the Seoul Central District Court last Tuesday, demanding 100 million won (87,000 dollars) in compensation for the physical and psychological suffering she underwent for being allured into a sexual relationship with Lee based on his false promise that they would tie the knot. Several days later, she also accused the actor of being involved in heaving gambling.

Kim & Chang stressed that Kwon "appears to have a foul motive to tarnish Lee Byung-hun's image" and submitted a petition to court, requesting for an investigation into the matter along with some blackmailers.

According to Lee's agency BH Entertainment, anonymous male callers had been threatening to expose false details about the actor's relationship with Kwon unless Lee paid them several billions of wons.

Lee, 39, has appeared in numerous Korean dramas and films, including TV series "All In" and director Park Chan-wook's 2000 film "Joint Security Area". He also debuted in Hollywood this year with a supporting role in "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" alongside Channing Tatum and Sienna Miller and starred in action thriller "I Come with the Rain" with Josh Hartnett and Takuya Kimura which also showed in theaters this year.

He currently stars in hit TV series "Iris" co-starring actress Kim Tae-hee and actor Jung Jun-ho. Lee also plans to attend a fan meeting at Tokyo Dome on Thursday this week, alongside other top Hallyu stars including Jang Dong-gun, Won Bin and Song Seung-hun.

Reporter : Park So-yoen muse@asiae.co.kr
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr