Actor Kim Min-jong has decided not to pursue a criminal complaint against rapper MC Mong, whom he had accused of defamation on the 1st.
Ockims, the law firm representing Kim, said on the 10th that it withdrew the complaint the previous day. The complaint, filed with the Seoul Jongno Police Station on the 1st, had accused MC Mong of violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, which covers online defamation.
"I thought it was also necessary to give another chance to someone who admits a mistake and apologizes," Kim said. "It is true that I suffered wounds and damage over the past four months that will be hard to erase, but I did not want to turn away from the heart of a junior colleague who reflected on what he did and asked for forgiveness." Kim added that he "thought embracing a person was a more meaningful choice than legal action."
Kim's side also said that "because MC Mong apologized for his remarks and personally asked for forgiveness, Kim accepted his junior colleague's apology and sincerity and decided to bring the matter to a close rather than pursue legal responsibility to the end."
Kim "accepted MC Mong's apology and conveyed a message of encouragement — that they should now cheer each other on and move forward from where each of them stands — and put the misunderstanding and conflict behind them," his side said.
MC Mong claimed during a live broadcast on social media in May that an illegal gambling circle existed in the entertainment industry, and made remarks suggesting that Kim was connected to the group.
After MC Mong repeatedly mentioned him, Kim's side had said that "the reputation he built over 38 years was damaged by baseless claims, and he suffered actual harm, including the suspension of a next project he was in talks to appear in and of advertising contracts. We will take legal action by the book, including a civil claim for damages."
The dispute subsided, however, after MC Mong held another live broadcast on the 5th and said, "Mentioning Kim Min-jong was itself wrong. We met in person and talked, and we cleared up the misunderstanding. I will accept whatever articles come out about this going forward." Kim is also known to have accepted MC Mong's apology.
Newsis
