Kim Hyun Joong opened up about his long legal dispute with his ex-girlfriend, saying that even after being cleared in court, he feels he did not gain or lose anything from the five-year battle.
Speaking on the YouTube talk show "B-Level Hearing," the singer-actor was asked to revisit the controversy that dominated his career from 2014, when his former girlfriend, known as "A" or Ms. Choi, accused him of assault and causing a miscarriage.
Kim said the case took an "extremely long time" to resolve and admitted that most public comments about him are still focused on the scandal. When the panel asked about reports that his ex had demanded around 1.6 billion won ($1.11 million) in damages, he replied that his lawyer handled the details and stressed that the matter is now legally settled, according to allkpop.
The dispute began in 2014, when his ex-girlfriend filed a criminal complaint claiming he injured her ribs and caused serious emotional distress. Kim paid a settlement of 600 million won ($416,666.67) and received a fine of 5 million won ($3,4722.22), under a confidentiality agreement, but further lawsuits followed.
In 2015, she filed a new civil suit seeking 1.6 billion won ($1.11 million), saying his alleged abuse caused a miscarriage and that he pressured her to have an abortion, while he counter-sued for the same amount, arguing that her claims were false and damaging, soompi reported.
After years of investigations and multiple trials, courts found there was no evidence that she had miscarried because of his actions or that he forced an abortion. In November 2020, South Korea's Supreme Court upheld lower-court rulings that ordered her to pay Kim 100 million won ($69,444.44) in damages and dismissed her large compensation claim, effectively ending the legal fight that had lasted more than five years.
Judges noted that his reputation as a celebrity had been seriously harmed by the allegations, even though key parts of her story were not backed by medical or documentary proof.
Looking back now, Kim emphasized how long it took to clear his name but downplayed the outcome in personal terms, repeating that there was "nothing gained, and nothing lost" despite the final court victory. His remarks highlight how the public controversy and legal process still shape his image today, even after the judiciary ruled in his favor, as per chosun.
