Kim Ki‑duk Faces Another Legal Skirmish – But This Time the Verdict Skips the Allegations
In Seoul’s latest courtroom drama, famed Korean film director Kim Ki‑duk (58) found his defamation complaints—against an actress who accused him of abuse and several journalists who reported on the claims—dismissed by prosecutors. The result? A five‑million‑won fine for physical assault, but the sexual‑harassment charges were dropped due to a glaring lack of evidence.
Movie‑Maker Highlights
- Golden Lion winner for Pieta (2012)
- Silver Bear (Best Director) at Berlin (2004)
- Gained notoriety for disturbing, yet award‑winning, films like Moebius (2013)
The 2017 Fallout
During the production of Moebius, an actress alleged that Kim forced her into unscripted sexual scenes and repeatedly slapped her. After she was replaced, the case hit the headlines.
Legal Breakdown
- Sexual‑abuse charge dismissed; prosecutors cite insufficient evidence.
- Five million won fine (≈ S$6,000) for physical assault. No longer taking a genus of “Rape” to the courtroom.
- Kim’s counter‑claims: Defamation against PD Notebook journalists and the former Moebius actress.
#MeToo Goes Locally: The PD Notebook Show
In a buzz‑worthy investigative TV program, a handful of anonymous actresses accused Kim of rape and other violations. The show aired amid South Korea’s #MeToo wave, and prosecutors deemed the interviews credible.
Kim’s Rejection — And the Cheeky Retorts
He called the accusations “false” and demanded investigations into those who aired them.
Moebius’ Actress (now a real‑life cheerleader for truth):“Kim tried to silence me—and any other hopeful victims—using false‑accusation lawsuits. But here’s the big news: we will never be silenced again.”
— Adds a wry nod to the resilience of the modern woman.
Bottom Line: Justice Isn’t Wish‑Fulfilled
Even though the court didn’t find proof of sexual misconduct, it still fined Kim for the physical assault claim—proving that the law doesn’t always give the sailor a monsoon‑free sail.
As the world watches, we’re hanging our collective eyebrows on whether Kim’s pen and film might cross future lines or stay firmly in the spotlight of circumscribed controversy. Stay tuned!
