'Lovely Runner's Lee Cheol-woo denies ties to Burning Sun scandal
What's the story
Lee Cheol-woo, the actor currently starring in the ongoing K-drama Lovely Runner, has publicly denied any involvement in the notorious Burning Sun scandal.
The scandal recently resurfaced due to a BBC documentary, focusing on a chatroom where South Korean celebrities allegedly discussed criminal activities.
Lee's name was identified during forensic investigations of the chatroom, leading to shock and concern among fans of Lovely Runner.
Context
Why does this story matter?
For those unaware, the Burning Sun scandal rocked the entertainment industry to its core in 2019.
It implicated individuals in sex solicitation, the unauthorized recording of sexual videos, and corruption, and involved notable figures like Jung Joon-young, BIGBANG's Seungri, along with business figures and police officials.
These videos circulated within Jung's KakaoTalk group chat, which came to light during investigations into the scandal.
It's this chat that Lee is now linked with.
Title
Lee clarified he wasn't part of the scandalous chatroom
In an Instagram post shared on Monday, Lee clarified his chatroom participation.
He stated that he was part of a chatroom for the 2016 JTBC variety show Hit Maker, not the one linked to the Burning Sun scandal.
The actor emphasized that this chatroom was used solely for discussing schedules and program-related information, with no personal conversations taking place.
He also mentioned that the chatroom was deleted after Hit Maker was canceled.
Impact
Lee's intention to pursue legal action against 'malicious comments'
Lee expressed distress over the ongoing allegations and their impact on himself, his family, and acquaintances.
He called for an end to false speculation and announced his intention to pursue legal action against any further malicious comments.
This statement aligns with previous assertions of innocence made by his agency.
Lee's agency maintained that while he was part of the chatroom before the alleged crimes occurred, he did not engage in any criminal activity.
Reactions
Fans urged fellow actors to distance themselves from Lee
This is the second time Lee has addressed accusations related to the case.
The first explanation was provided in 2019 when he initially faced these allegations. Reports indicated that Lee had not been contacted by law enforcement.
Meanwhile, the actor's close relationships with fellow actors Byeon Woo-seok and Joo Woo-jae have drawn attention amid these allegations.
Fans have expressed surprise at recent sightings of them together and called for Byeon and Joo to distance themselves from Lee.