Actor Hong Min-ki [Herald Muse/Yoon Byung-chan]
Actor Hong Min-ki [Herald Muse/Yoon Byung-chan]

The former girlfriend of actor Hong Min-ki, whose allegations of dating violence and coerced abortion sparked widespread controversy, has announced she will stop posting publicly and pursue legal action instead.

The woman, identified only as A, said Thursday on her social media that she would no longer post content related to Hong on her personal page. "I will file a complaint and make sure he is properly punished in court," she said.

She also deleted posts she had previously shared, including medical documents from a gynecology clinic, ultrasound images and photographs of bruises.

On Wednesday, A set off a firestorm by alleging that Hong had committed dating violence, assault, intimidation and invasion of privacy. According to her account, Hong frequently made misogynistic remarks demeaning women and spoke disparagingly about colleagues and fans who supported him.

She further alleged that after they had broken up, Hong subjected her to prolonged verbal abuse and physical aggression lasting dozens of minutes, and that he attempted to force sexual intercourse at his home — conduct she characterized as a sex crime.

A also claimed she became pregnant while in a relationship with Hong and that he pressured her to have an abortion.

Hong's side pushed back, acknowledging that the two had dated since April but saying the relationship ended because A had been unfaithful. His representatives said A subsequently engaged in stalking behavior and, exploiting Hong's public profile, threatened him by saying, "Oppa has a lot to lose, so I'll go ahead and file a complaint."

Hong denied A's pregnancy and abortion claims, saying he had never heard anything about a pregnancy before the allegations surfaced. His side raised the possibility that the pregnancy claim was fabricated, citing evidence that included a video A sent on the day she said she underwent the procedure — showing her riding a bicycle alone.

Hong's representatives said they would pursue both civil and criminal action against A over alleged stalking and defamation. The two sides are expected to let the courts determine the truth through dueling legal complaints.

The truth has yet to be established, but the allegations have already dealt a blow to Hong's image and career. The day after the disclosures emerged, Jeong Sik Poom quietly made its "Vegemil High-Protein Soy Milk Series" advertisement — featuring Hong as its model — private on its website and YouTube channel. The ad had been public since April, coming down after roughly four months.

Born in 2002, Hong made his debut in 2020 and has appeared in the dramas "Bami Doeeotseumnida," "Sarangeun Oenamu Darijeso," "Study Group" and "Baniwa Oppadeul." A second season of "Study Group" is set for release. A is an influencer with around 30,000 followers.


paq@heraldcorp.com