Kim Min-jong [provided by SV Com]
Kim Min-jong [provided by SV Com]

Singer and actor Kim Min-jong has filed a criminal complaint against fellow singer MC Mong over allegations that he was involved in illegal gambling, escalating the dispute into an all-out legal battle.

According to Kim's legal representative, law firm O'Kims, Kim submitted the complaint Tuesday to Jongno Police Station in Seoul, requesting an investigation into MC Mong on charges of violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection — specifically, defamation through the spread of false information.

The dispute traces back to a live broadcast MC Mong hosted on May 18, during which he claimed that an illegal gambling ring existed among celebrities and named Kim as one of its members, triggering widespread controversy.

Kim's camp said the allegations had seriously damaged his reputation and credibility built over 38 years since his 1988 debut. It added that concrete discussions already underway for a Hollywood project and two advertising contracts were halted as a direct result.

"We will hold him fully accountable under the law and on principle, without any compromise," Kim's side said.

O'Kims said it would cooperate fully with investigators to establish the facts and would pursue civil damages claims as a follow-up measure. The firm added that if further instances of the same or similar false claims were found to have been spread or repeatedly posted, it would seek an injunction to prohibit the dissemination of false information, among other additional legal steps.


shee@heraldcorp.com