Kang Byung-kyu countersues Lee Byung-hun for defamation

Baseball player-turned-TV personality Kang Byung-kyu, who was indicted last week for defamation and attempted blackmail against top Korean actor Lee Byung-hun, has countersued the Hallyu star on charges of defamation.

The former athlete held a press conference at Seocho Art Hall in Seoul on Wednesday, announcing he had filed a suit against Lee Byung-hun after being "wrongly accused" of his involvement in a feud between the actor and his ex-girlfriend identified by her last name Kwon.

A legal dispute between the former couple had fired up when Kwon lodged a complaint to court saying she was allured into having a sexual relationship with the actor on his false promises of marriage and demanded she be compensated for physical and psychological damage.

Lee's representatives in turn filed a suit against Kwon and whoever may also be behind the case, claiming anonymous male callers had threatened to expose false details about the former couple's relationship unless the Hallyu star paid them several billions of wons.

The ruling by prosecutors last Friday, where Lee was cleared of a gambling allegation made by Kwon, confirmed Kang's involvement.

Kang also said at the press conference, however, that the investigation was "one-sided" and "not even a cross-examination between the plaintiff and the accused took place." He added his hopes that the necessary investigation takes place now that he has pressed charges.

He had already been indicted for his alleged involvement in an assault case on the set of "Iris" -- then starring Lee -- which he visited in mid-December over talk that Chung Tae-won, chief of Taewon Entertainment and producer of the hit show, had spread false rumor that he was behind the feud between Lee and Kwon.

Kang also has a suspended jail term which he received in February for habitually gambling through online gambling sites.

Reporter : Kang Seung-hun tarophine@asiae.co.kr
Editor : Lynn Kim lynn2878@asiae.co.kr