Kang Byung-kyu to countersue Lee Byung-hun

Baseball player-turned-TV personality Kang Byung-kyu has declared he will countersue actor Lee Byung-hun who has sued him for defamation.

"I heard the news through his legal representatives... I will not remain silent anymore," Kang told Asia Economic Daily over the phone on Thursday. "I will take counteraction and sue Lee for defamation too, as well as for making false accusations."

Kang had already been indicted for his alleged involvement in an assault case on the set of TV series "Iris" which roots from an ongoing legal battle between Lee and his ex-girlfriend identified by her last name Kwon.

Lee last month had taken legal action against Kwon, a Korean-Canadian who sued the Hallyu star for allegedly alluring her into a sexual relationship on false promises of marriage.

The scandal escalated when Kang visited the set of "Iris" in mid-December over talk that Chung Tae-won, chief of Taewon Entertainment and producer of the hit TV series, had spread false rumor that he was behind the feud between Lee and Kwon.

Prosecutors have also placed a travel ban on Kang and Kwon's friend, also known to be an acquaintance of Kang's, in relation to Lee's countersuit against Kwon for defamation.

Kang had received a suspended jail term in February for habitually gambling through online gambling sites.

Reporter : Kang Seung-hun tarophine@asiae.co.kr
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr