One of the two women accused of blackmailing actor Lee Byung Hun is trying to explain her actions.
The alleged blackmailers have been identified as actress and GLAM member Dahee and model Lee Ji Yeon. The women reportedly threatened to reveal video footage of a conversation they had with Lee Byung Hun unless he paid them $5 million.
According to a recent article in Naver, Lee Ji Yeon's lawyer says that the model did not act in a premeditated way. Instead they say she acted impulsively because she dated Lee Byung Hun for a few months and he refused to see her any more. Lee Byung Hun has been married to actress Lee Min Jung for the past year.
On Sept. 9, Lee Ji Yeon's lawyer told Naver that "Model Lee started to see Lee Byung Hun approximately three months ago, meeting him several times in her Gangnam home. This past August, he told her 'Let's not see each other anymore,' and hurt by this breakup, she blackmailed him with the video."
According to the lawyer, the only reason for making the relationship public was to explain Lee Ji Yeon's emotional state. Since the alleged blackmail is a criminal act the two women face a hefty fine and years in prison if convicted.
Lee Ji Yeon's lawyer also told Naver that it was Dahee that took the video at Lee Ji Yeon's home. There has been some controversy over where the alleged incident took place, with different reports saying that it happened at a bar or at Lee Byung Hun's home. According to Lee Ji Yeon, she went out to buy wine and while she was gone, Lee Byung Hun and Dahee had the lewd conversation that Dahee allegedly videotaped on her phone.
Her lawyer also said that she did not buy tickets to Europe in advance. If she had, the act would seem premeditated. What she had instead, her lawyer claimed, was a note about the price and schedule of a round trip ticket to Sweden.
"We already explained this when her belongings were examined," said Lee Ji Yeon's lawyer.
BH Entertainment, Lee Byung Hun's management agency disputed the lawyer's statement. According to BH Entertainment said, "Lee Byung Hun met Lee Ji Yeon through a friend towards the end of June. They have not once met alone, and we are not sure where the breakup claim is coming from."
Lee Byung Hun told his agency that he was suspicious when the girls spoke to him about their financial problems and he had no desire to see them again. It should not be interpreted as a breakup, cautions his agency.
"This sort of response, making the premeditated crime seem to be an impulsive one, we believe is an attempt to damage our image and avoid a severe sentence."
The case was turned over to the prosecution on Sept. 11.
