On July 24, actor Lee Byung Hun made his first public appearance following an alleged blackmail scandal which began in September 2014.
45-year-old star stood alone for three minutes, during a press conference for his upcoming film, "Memories of the Sword." He bowed before members of the media, who were in attendance, and maintained a somber expression through most of the event.
During the event, which was held at the Lotte Cinema in Gwangjin Gu, Lee was questioned about the delay of "Memories of the Sword." Transcripts from his statement were included in a report published by the Korea Times.
"The film was initially scheduled for an earlier release date," said Lee. "But because of the atmosphere and other circumstances, the film is showing now. This is largely because of me."
He went on to apologize to his co-stars and those who were involved in the production of the film. "I want to apologize to the [other] actors and concerned parties."
In an article published by TV Report, the actor provides further insight into his sentiments about his recent scandal and its potential effects on attendance for "Memories of the Sword." "This is a time of reflection," said Lee. "I will be handling the criticism on my own."
Lee continued to discuss the potential of the film, as it is now released in a summer market.
"Memories of the Sword" is the first Korean release from the actor since the blackmail scandal, following his Hollywood film "Terminator Genisys."
Legal woes for the star began in September 2014 when Dahee, a member of defunct girl group GLAM and model Lee Ji Yeon, allegedly blackmailed him for a large sum of money. Lee and his wife, actress Lee Min Jung, resided within the United States for the majority of the trial.
Lee Byung Hun issued a public apology to his family, upon his return to Korea. Lee Min Jung delivered their first child on March 31, 2015.
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About the writer: Adrienne Stanley is a contributing editor for KDramastars. She is also a contributing writer for KpopStarz, MTV Iggy, Viki and CJ Entertainment's KCON blog. Her passions include a love of K-pop and Asian drama. When she is not writing, she is hanging out on Twitter (@retrogirladdy).
