Kim Yong Gun Releases Statement After Pregnant Girlfriend Presses Charges Against Him

[broadcities.livejournal.com]

Actor Kim Yong Gun has formally responded to reports about his pregnant girlfriend filing a criminal complaint against him.

On August 2, Dispatch reported that for the past 13 years, Kim Yong Gun had been involved with a woman 39 years younger than him (hereafter referred to as “A”) (Op note: he is 75 years old). After meeting at a drama wrap party in 2008, the two reportedly carried on a secret relationship for over a decade.

According to Dispatch, conflict arose between the couple in March, when A became pregnant and Kim Yong Gun opposed the idea of her giving birth to the child. A has since filed a criminal lawsuit against the actor on the charge of attempting to force her into an abortion.

Following the report, Kim Yong Gun released an official statement regarding the situation and the criminal lawsuit. In his statement, he mentions his sons Ha Jung Woo and Cha Hyun Woo, though he does not refer to them by name.

Kim Yong Gun’s full statement is as follows:

"This is Kim Yong Gun. First, I would like to apologize for causing concern with the sudden news of my being sued.

Also, although we have wound up in a legal dispute that I did not foresee at all, I would like to sincerely convey my regret to both the mother-to-be and the child.

Up until recently, I told the other party multiple times, “I’ll support your childbirth and take responsibility.” Because of that, I did not expect that this matter would lead to a legal dispute involving a lawsuit. I feel as though what should have been an occasion for blessings and congratulations has been ruined by my improper conduct, and my heart is endlessly heavy when I think of the fact that the child will find out about this lawsuit.

I’ve known the other party for a long time. After my children moved out, she occasionally visited and brightened up a home that had become an empty nest. She often took care of me when I was alone, and I have always been grateful to her. Although we didn’t contact or see each other every day, I was always happy to see her, and we had a good relationship where we took care of each other.

At the beginning of April 2021, I heard from the other party that she was four weeks pregnant. Because we hadn’t promised each other or planned a future together, I was initially more surprised and worried than I was happy. My age and ability to raise a child, how I would be able to face my sons, how society would look upon me—all of these things came crashing down on me at once.

At the time, I was not able to discuss this situation with anyone, and I only complained about the situation I was in to the other party, telling her that she could not give birth to the child and that it was not realistic. I tried pleading, I tried complaining, and I tried getting angry. However, the other party emphasized that the life [of the child] was precious, and on May 21, 2021, she told me to speak only to her lawyer and cut off contact with me.

Although it was a bit late, I came to the obvious realization that the child is more precious than my image. I told my sons about the pregnancy, and unlike what I had worried about, my sons welcomed [the news], saying that a new life was a blessing. After receiving my sons’ support, starting on May 23, 2021 up until recently, I told the other party and her lawyer multiple times that “I will take all responsibility for the childbirth and childcare.” Right now, I am engraving deeply into my heart the fact that what is most important is the other party’s safe childbirth and recovery, as well as the child’s health.

However, I think the emotional wounds suffered by the other party were greater than I had thought. It seems as though my apology and sincere feelings weren’t properly conveyed, so I am very regretful.

I will do my utmost to help the other party’s recovery from [these emotional] wounds, healthy childbirth, and childcare. If, by any chance, something I did conflicts with the law and I need to take responsibility, then of course I will take responsibility.

I will accept any stinging reproach. However, for the sake of the pregnant mother-to-be and the child, I urge you to refrain from provocative reports or comments.

I will make another statement as the situation resolves itself. I’m sorry, and thank you."

Source: XSportnews via Soompi

Comments

[peachypearl.livejournal.com]

I first saw this mentioned as 'Premarital pregnancy scandal' like, okay that is the smallest problem about this situation. They're so overly invested in needing to be married to have a baby that people are glossing over the actual issue.

Which is him allegedly trying to force her to have an abortion and there being such a large age difference between them (With presumably some power play as well, since he is very well known) but you know...what did I expect really.

[em-cavey.livejournal.com]

All the articles I’ve seen have been headlined as 낙태 강요죄 (criminal coercion of abortion) and the responses have been focused on the age gap and calling him the shameless dirty old man that he is. So who exactly is ‘they’ and who exactly is glossing over it?

[peachypearl.livejournal.com]

I went back to check some of the articles that I had seen previously but now the titles have been changed to more relevant topics like paternity suit and are addressing the forced abortion. I did see one other article that mentions that the woman in question is not even his girlfriend, as if that part is relevant.

Also they refers to the people who are chatting about the articles, not the journalists necessarily. To be honest I am also 'concerned' about the people who are only looking at the age gap here. Sure it's problematic but the situation wouldn't be any better if he was much younger. You shouldn't try to force anyone to have an abortion.

So if everything has been skewed much more towards that it's good.

[em-cavey.livejournal.com]

Yeah not all the details were public at first and more pertinent stuff was revealed later. The media is mentioning that the woman wasn’t his girlfriend bc she herself made a public statement where she emphasized that distinction and wanted people to know. And yes people are in fact critical of the abortion pressure too. I’m sure some are being gross or backwards about the whole thing, that’s what people do, but most of "them" are responding more or less “correctly” and honestly your first comment is confirmation bias and pretty condescending.

[babycheeses1.livejournal.com]

This is wildddddddd! Not only is this guy a whole-ass grandpa, but he tried to force this women to get an abortion against her wishes annnnnd she's 39 years his junior annnnnnnnnnd they've been in a relationship for a decade sooo since her 20's???? The twists and turns in this story!

Also obligatory men are trash comment.

[goshipgurl.livejournal.com]

They met when she was 26 and he 62. Disgusting

[xoxkenzxox.livejournal.com]

She could be his daughter. Helll. She could be his GRANDAUGHTER.

*throw up*

[lizanka23.livejournal.com]

When will men stop having relationships with women young enough to be their daughters? 🤢

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

EW

[em-cavey.livejournal.com]

He is SO gross and always has been but I also don’t get why a lawsuit was necessary. That poor baby is going to come into this world with so much baggage attached. Hopefully the parents can get their shit together for its sake :(

I feel kind of bad for Ha Jungwoo too, his embarrassing dad is always trying so hard to ride on his coattails and now this mess

[broadcities.livejournal.com]

i think she resorted to the lawsuit because he was pressuring her into having an abortion? normal couples would perhaps talk it out or choose mediation but their relationship seems problematic from the start

how has he been riding on ha jungwoo's coattails? and how has this man always been gross? i wasn't familiar with anything outside of his acting before this

[em-cavey.livejournal.com]

Sure but if she doesn’t want an abortion then she doesn’t have to get one, there’s no way to actually force her. Like if she wants the baby and hates him, maybe cut off contact and get child support or sth? It’s hard to understand why she went so far as to dig up a very obscure, outdated law to press charges, especially if he was coming around to accepting the birth and providing for them (but ofc who knows if that's true). I mean, it’s her legal right if it’s a law on the books but now it’s an issue of criminality and public record that her child is going to grow up and find out about and realize that the whole country/world know they were a scandalous, unwanted accident. Idk it seems so extreme and again, I just feel bad for the baby that's going to be born into so much ugliness that it doesn't deserve

As for him, I don’t think he’s ever had a real scandal like this but he’s had dirty old skirt-chaser vibes/rumors for a looong time. He’s always been one of those pathetic old dudes who thinks he’s 30 years younger than he actually is, very extended mid-life crisis energy 🙄 And it’s so awkward bc they’re both v well-known but Ha Jungwoo is on a whole other level of star power/prestige and his dad constantly, shamelessly brings him up at every opportunity and uses him for mediaplay a lot. But HJW never mentions him unless directly asked and it seems like they’re not really close. So yeah it’s always been awkward as hell to see and now this 😬

[broadcities.livejournal.com]

yeah i see your point, for the baby it's really not the best and it might affect their relationship in the long run as well. at the same time, i feel like as an older actor, there might be some power relations at play that allows his to pressure her quite heavily mentally

ugh he sounds like even more of a gross jerk, thanks for explaining!