South Korean singer-actor Lee Sung Gi, 29, first made headlines after a malicious rumor about the star had fathered a secret child made noise on the web. Now, the person who started the malevolent gossip has been identified by the local police authorities.
According to a report by Korea's Star News on June 23, Thursday, the source behind the rumor, referred to as "A," is an employee at an unnamed major Korean mobile carrier. The publication notes that it all began on June 21, Tuesday, when "A" wrote the rumors about the actor in a group chat at work.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Lee had reportedly fathered a secret child with a make-up artist, who is said to be older than him. The rumor mill suggests that the two were secretly raising the child together. It is said that Lee reportedly made sure to find time to visit the alleged mother and baby, although the former is currently fulfilling his mandatory service.
Part of the rumor that was widely spread online includes the claim that a local media outlet, namely Dispatch, was reportedly collecting additional information about the groundbreaking news. However, Dispatch dismissed the claims and refuted it through a post on their website that the story is completely fabricated.
The rumor even went so far as to upload a photograph of the supposed mother of Lee's alleged secret child. Not long after the photograph was spread online, the unnamed civilian in the picture had also filed a complaint with the police against the source. It was then learned that the woman in the revealed photos was actually an employee working in a different department of the same company.
Lee's agency, Hook Entertainment, beforehand expressed to Soompi that they would bring strict legitimate measures with no tolerance against each one of the individuals who spread the noxious rumor.
"We have retained a lawyer for a lawsuit against the original person who spread the malicious rumor," a representative from Hook Entertainment said to the publication. "The rumor was malicious because it was targeted at a civilian, so there will be no leniency. We plan on taking stern measures."
Meanwhile, Lee is currently completing his 21-month mandatory military service at the Republic of Korea Army Special Forces "Black Berets" (R.O.K-Special Forces). He enlisted as an active duty soldier on Feb. 1 and is expected to be discharged from the army on Oct. 31, 2017.
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