Journalist accused of libel strikes back at Lee Mi-sook
The reporter in question appeared on an entertainment news program on SBS on Wednesday night and said he had documents, including a handwritten note from Lee’s former younger boyfriend, of Lee’s extra-marital affair prior to her divorce in 2009.
“Lee Mi-sook should handle the situation better. I stand by what I said earlier... I did not say anything false about her,” said the journalist.
He said he obtained the documents when Lee’s agency and the boyfriend, who is 17 years her junior, were in a dispute over a contract that would prevent the boyfriend from talking to media about the affair.
On June 7, Lee filed a lawsuit accusing the journalist and her former agency of spreading lies about her.
Lee’s former agency has said it paid large sums of money to a male escort Lee was seeing years ago to protect Lee’s public image. Lee is seeking 1 billion won ($856,986) in damages.
By Carla Sunwoo
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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