Actresses accused South Korean director Kim Ki-duk of sexual misconduct, including rape, in accounts reported by MBC’s PD’s Notepad in 2018. Kim denied the allegations. Prosecutors reported a 5 million won summary fine for assault, while dropping other charges; a court later dismissed Kim’s civil damages suit against an actress and MBC. Those outcomes were distinct and did not amount to a rape conviction or a finding that every allegation was true or false.
What did the actresses allege?
The 2017 complaint connected to Moebius
Yonhap News Agency reported in 2017 that an actress, whose identity was withheld, accused Kim of coercion and physical and sexual assault while filming his 2013 movie Moebius. She said he slapped her and pressured her to perform an unscripted sex scene. These were the actress’s allegations, not findings established by a court in the reports cited here.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Hallyuwood: The Ultimate Guide to Korean Cinema | $25.41 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Rediscovering Korean Cinema (Perspectives On Contemporary Korea) | $44.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
New Korean Cinema: Breaking the Waves (Short Cuts) | $14.51 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
New Korean Cinema | $22.79 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Bong Joon Ho: Dissident Cinema | $10.49 | Buy on Amazon |
The accounts aired by MBC
In March 2018, MBC’s investigative program PD’s Notepad aired accounts from three actresses. Yonhap’s coverage described allegations including demands for sex, sexualized language, groping and rape. The actresses were not identified in the reporting, and their accounts should not be treated as independently adjudicated findings.
How did Kim respond?
Kim denied the sexual misconduct allegations on PD’s Notepad. Yonhap quoted him as saying: “I have never used my position as a movie director to satisfy my personal desire.”
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →#1 Best Overall
What happened in the criminal proceedings?
Yonhap reported that prosecutors imposed a 5 million won summary fine on Kim for assault and dropped the other charges, citing insufficient physical evidence. The fine concerned assault; it was not a rape conviction. Dropping the other charges did not establish that the allegations were false.
In a separate decision, prosecutors found insufficient evidence to charge the actress and the program crew with false accusation. The Korea JoongAng Daily reported that finding in January 2019, and Yonhap later reported prosecutors said the allegations against Kim could not be judged false. That decision was not a ruling proving every allegation.
What became of Kim’s civil suit against the actress and MBC?
Kim sought 1 billion won in damages from the actress and MBC after the program aired. On October 28, 2020, the Seoul Western District Court dismissed his claim and ordered him to pay the defendants’ legal fees, according to Yonhap. The dismissal resolved Kim’s compensation suit; it should not be recast as a judicial determination of every underlying allegation.
Was there another lawsuit?
Yonhap also reported that Kim filed a separate 300 million won suit against Korean Womenlink after the group called for a film festival to withdraw his film. The reports cited here do not establish how that case ended.
Rank #3
- New
- Mint Condition
- Dispatch same day for order received before 12 noon
- Guaranteed packaging
- No quibbles returns
What happened to Kim Ki-duk?
Kim died in Latvia in December 2020 from complications of COVID-19, the Korean Film Council and Yonhap reported. The published news accounts summarized here do not reproduce the full prosecution records or court judgments, so they support a chronology of reported allegations and procedural outcomes rather than an independent assessment of the testimony or complete legal reasoning.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
