A civil lawsuit seeking 12 billion in damages has also been submitted to the Seoul Central District Court.
It feels like too many people are suffering because of me.
And I feel deep sorrow thinking that the deceased may not be resting in peace.
Ive always thought of myself as a coward.
I was always too focused on protecting what I had.
I couldnt even trust kindness shown to me.
I was constantly afraidafraid of losing something, of being harmed.
I kept running away and denying things.
Thats why it took me so long to stand here today.
I worried about how my decision might affect the people around me.
What if I end up hurting not just myself but everyone else too?
Even when the deceased posted a photo of us together whileQueen of Tearswas airing, I hesitated.
But at the time, I denied it.
I understand that its natural to criticize me for that decision.
I also understand if you find it hard to believe what I say now about our relationship.
After becoming an actor, I received more love than I ever deserved.
I didnt have much to begin with, but I ended up with so much to protect.
WhenQueen of Tearsaired, as a lead actor, there were so many things I had to safeguard.
I kept thinkingWhat will happen if I acknowledge a past relationship from years ago?
What about the actors I worked with?
The staff who stayed up all night on set?
The producers who poured everything into this project?
Thats why I was scared every day.
What if everything I tried to protect as a star ends up backfiring on me?
I couldnt make that decision just to ease my own conscience.
No matter how I think about it, I dont think that would have been right.
I believe thats the burden I must carry for choosing this life as Kim Soo Hyun.
If people say my decision was cowardly or selfish, Ill accept that.
And I apologize to everyone who has supported me.
Even now, Im full of worry.
Im anxious about what consequences my words today might bring.
But because I am the person I am, I knew I had to speak eventually.
But I couldnt go along with it.
I couldnt accept the demand to call lies the truth while being blackmailed.
Now, I want to address the part youre probably most curious about.
I didnotdate the deceased when she was a minor.
Aside from both of us being actors, we were just a normal couple.
We dated with genuine feelings and later broke up as time passed.
After that, we barely kept in contact.
Like most former couples, its difficult to stay in touch.
Thats also why I couldnt easily reach out after her DUI incident.
But to my knowledge, she was in a relationship with someone else at the time.
Thats why I was especially careful.
I didnt know what to say to her while we were living separate lives.
You may think this all sounds like excuses.
I, too, often just wanted to stay quiet, no matter what the world said.
Ive always received overwhelming lovebut that also comes with misunderstandings.
False information spreads like its the truth.
But I thought,that too is something I must endure.
Theyre even demanding I confess to things I never did.
just listen to this audio recording.
After her family revealed our relationship, the YouTube channel released testimony from the head of her last agency.
They claimed my agency pressured her with a second certified debt notice.
But in a phone call from a year ago, the same person said something entirely different.
I ask you to listen for yourselves.
If Ive done anything wrong, Ill admit it.
If I need to take responsibility, I will.
But I cant say I did something I didnt do.
Those KakaoTalk messages contain too many inaccuracies to have been written by the deceased.
The messages said they were from 2016, but the attached photo is from 2019.
The age difference is wrong.
The name and duration of her contract with the agency are also incorrect.
And the deceased never did casting or visual directing work at our agencyshe only worked as an actress.
That same YouTube channel used those messages to label me a pedophile and accuse me of grooming a minor.
But the person talking to her in the 2016 messages is not the same as in 2018.
The forensic institute concluded that the person in the 2016 and 2018 messages is not the same individual.
This was the hardest part.
Every time we responded to their claims, they would release new audio clips.
They manipulated the timeline of photos and videos.
They released edited images of KakaoTalk chats, not the originals.
Based on the fact that I once dated the deceased, fake testimonies and forged evidence have kept coming.
Ill accept all criticism for my choices.
But that doesnt make falsehoods into truth.
If they truly believe its genuine, then let it be examined legally.
Even now, I have people who look up to mepeople I am responsible for.
And Ive been watching them suffer every day.
I dont know what will be exposed or distorted next to paint me as a murderer.
Id be telling them,You loved garbage.
You were fooled.I would leave behind wounds that never heal.
I will take full responsibility for the things I did.
I will accept any criticism.
But I will not take responsibility for things I did not do.
For the sake of everyone who still believes in me, I had to speak that truth.
Im not asking you to believe me.
I will now make an announcement on behalf of the agency.
We have attached the forensic reports as supporting evidence.
We have also submitted a civil lawsuit to the Seoul Central District Court seeking 12 billion (approx.
We ask for your understanding regarding our decision to forgo a Q&A session.
As the legal representatives of Kim Soo Hyun and his agency, we kindly request your patience and understanding.
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