Actor Kim Seung-woo, facing a theft complaint over 22 million won ($16,500) allegedly taken from an acquaintance, has rebuffed the accusation through legal counsel, saying the incident was "a playful act between close acquaintances" and that the money had already been returned. Kim's side warned of legal action against the complainant's claim that the stolen funds were never repaid, calling it contrary to the facts.
Attorney Kim Young-gon of law firm Suho, representing Kim Seung-woo, issued an official statement Thursday saying the incident "occurred at a drinking gathering among people who knew each other well" and that "it was an open situation witnessed by everyone present, and the money was to be returned when they met again a few hours later."
The attorney added that when the two parties were unable to meet the following day, the money was immediately returned via bank transfer. "There was absolutely no intent to unlawfully take another person's money, and it is therefore our position that no criminal intent existed," the statement said.
Earlier, a media outlet reported that an acquaintance identified only as A filed a theft complaint against Kim at the Seoul Gangnam Police Station in July. The incident allegedly took place in October 2021 at a bar in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
According to the report, A was an investor in the drama series "The Driver," which Kim directed, and attended the gathering along with the production crew and cast. A claimed that while briefly away from the table, Kim took cash and checks totaling 22 million won from a wallet inside A's bag. A said subsequent demands for the money to be returned went unmet.
Kim's side rebuffed the theft characterization, insisting the act was a prank carried out in plain view of everyone at the table, with plans to return the money when they met again later that evening. When a direct meeting the next day fell through, Kim sent the money by bank transfer — and, according to Kim's side, actually transferred more than the amount A claims was taken.
The sharpest point of dispute between the two parties is the nature of the money that changed hands after the incident. Kim's side cites bank transfer records as proof of repayment, but A's side argues the transfers were unrelated to the alleged theft and instead constituted investment principal and agreed-upon returns.
According to industry sources, Kim transferred 30 million won to A two days after the incident, on Oct. 31, 2021, and the following day, Nov. 1, made four additional transfers totaling 300 million won ($224,000). A's side said the initial 30 million won represented a 10 percent return on a 300 million won investment principal, and that the 22 million won in alleged theft proceeds was therefore never separately returned.
Financial dealings between the two continued after that. Kim's side is said to have presented records showing three transfers totaling 25 million won to a company affiliated with A between March 2023 and April this year. A's side said those payments were simply the repayment of a personal loan and had nothing to do with the alleged theft.
Kim's legal team also emphasized that the two maintained a close relationship after the incident. "The two parties continued to get along like brothers with no issues between them, and Kim even provided financial assistance to the complainant when the latter was going through a difficult time," the attorney said.
A's side, however, said it pursued legal action after demands for repayment of the stolen funds went unresolved. The two sides are said to have exchanged certified letters and other correspondence before the complaint was filed.
Kim's camp said it intends to respond forcefully to the complaint. "For reasons unknown, the complainant is making claims that do not reflect the truth and has even filed a criminal complaint, and we plan to respond strongly," attorney Kim said. "We have fully explained the facts to investigators based on the relevant materials." The attorney added: "As all questioning has now been completed, we ask that unverified claims and speculative reporting not be allowed to spread."
The Seoul Gangnam Police Station received the theft complaint against Kim in July and has been conducting an investigation. Police said questioning of both the complainant and the accused has been completed. Attention is now focused on the outcome of the investigation, with the two sides at odds over the circumstances in which the money was taken, whether criminal intent existed at the time, and whether the subsequent transfers constituted repayment of the alleged stolen funds.
shee@heraldcorp.com
