Kim Min-jong drops complaint against MC Mong over gambling allegations, calls it 'time to reflect on my life'

"It is already water under the bridge. Those 110 days were a time I will never forget for the rest of my life."

Actor and singer Kim Min-jong said this as he withdrew his complaint against MC Mong, who had raised gambling allegations against him.

In an official statement Thursday, Kim made clear, "As of today, I have withdrawn the complaint I filed against MC Mong."

"Many people who heard the news expressed concern, asking why I would withdraw the complaint so easily," he said. "But no matter what, it is already water under the bridge. I made this decision after deep consideration, for myself, so that I can become a better version of myself going forward."

Earlier, in May, MC Mong claimed during a live broadcast that an illegal gambling group involving celebrities existed and named Kim as one of its members. Kim strongly denied the claim, but MC Mong's allegations spread online and dealt considerable damage to Kim's career. In response, Kim filed a police complaint on Sept. 1, alleging defamation through the spread of false information. The complaint cited a violation of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection.

After the complaint was filed, MC Mong apologized, referring to Kim as his sunbae, a Korean term for a senior colleague. "I apologize once again for causing misunderstandings about Kim Min-jong," he said. "Mentioning my sunbae was my mistake. I will accept whatever comes out in the news from here on."

The two apparently spoke privately about the gambling allegations, and Kim appears to have forgiven his junior colleague, prompting him to withdraw the complaint.

"For me, those 110 days were a time I will never forget for the rest of my life," Kim said. "I lost a lot because of it, but I also think it was a time when I gained a lot." He added, "I bow my head deeply in gratitude to the many people who believed in and supported me throughout that process, and I also want to say I am sorry."

"I will reflect more deeply going forward and work hard, very hard, to become a better Min-jong," he said. "I am truly sorry. And I am so grateful."