Published : Sept. 3, 2014 - 11:28
South Korean singer and actor Kim Hyun-joong partially admitted to assault charges, 12 days after his girlfriend filed the charges against him.
Kim, 28, appeared at the Songpa District Police Station in southeastern Seoul at 9 p.m. on Tuesday to be questioned by the police over the accusations.
(Yonhap)
Asked how he felt before entering the police station, he told reporters waiting at the site, “I apologize for causing trouble. I will sincerely respond to the questioning.”
Kim had charges pressed against him on Aug. 22 by his then-girlfriend, who claimed he beat her on multiple occasions.
The woman claimed that she had been assaulted several times between late May and mid-July while arguing with Kim over “women issues” at his home in Jamsil, eastern Seoul.
According to the woman, Kim’s attacks left her with bruises in May and broken ribs in July, requiring six weeks of medical treatment. She also handed in a doctor’s report to back up her claim.
Kim’s agency KeyEast confirmed through a press release that their arguments did get emotional and evolved into a physical altercation, but that it only happened once, not repeatedly as the woman had claimed
(Yonhap)
The police said that Kim’s statement was consistent with what his agency said through its press release.
According to the authorities, Kim acknowledged that he had used violence against the woman only once and accidentally, spurning the accusation of “repetitive assaults” against her. Kim was not even aware that she had been injured, the police said.
The police raised the possibility of cross-questioning as the two parties gave conflicting statements. But there is also the possibility of a compromise, they added.
If Kim is found to have committed intentional and repeated assault, he could face a criminal trial.
Kim returned home at 1 a.m. on Wednesday after the four-hour questioning session.
The Asian heartthrob was on his worldwide “Fantasy” concert tour before returning to Korea to respond to the police summons.
Kim’s agency confirmed that the singer will continue his tour as scheduled. He will hold his next concerts in Peru on Sept. 7, Mexico on Sept. 12 and Japan on Sept. 16.
By Ock Hyun-ju (
laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)