Actor Hong Min-ki. [Yonhap]
Actor Hong Min-ki. [Yonhap]

Actor Hong Min-ki has denied allegations that he physically assaulted a former girlfriend and pressured her to have an abortion, even as an advertisement he appeared in was pulled from public view.

Jeong Sik Food set its "Vegemil High-Protein Soy Milk Series" commercial featuring Hong to private on both its website and YouTube channel. The ad had been publicly available since April, only to be taken down roughly four months later.

The company did not give a specific reason for the move, but the decision is believed to be connected to the controversy surrounding Hong.

Hong was drawn into the controversy Wednesday when a woman identified only as A, who claims to be his former girlfriend, alleged she had suffered dating violence, assault and intimidation, invasion of privacy, and stalking at his hands.

According to A, Hong frequently made misogynistic remarks that sexually demeaned women and also spoke disparagingly about colleagues and fans who supported him.

A further alleged that even after their breakup, Hong subjected her to prolonged verbal abuse and violent behavior lasting tens of minutes, and attempted to force sexual intercourse at her home — conduct she described as a sex crime.

A also said she became pregnant while the two were dating and that Hong pressured her to terminate the pregnancy.

Hong's side rebuffed the claims, acknowledging that the two had dated since April but saying he ended the relationship after A was unfaithful, and that she subsequently stalked and threatened him.

Hong also denied the pregnancy and abortion allegations, saying he had never heard anything about A being pregnant before the accusations surfaced. His side further raised the possibility that the pregnancy claim itself was fabricated, citing evidence that included a video A sent him of herself riding a bicycle alone on the day she claimed to have undergone the procedure.


paq@heraldcorp.com