South Korean actor Lee Yi-kyung has been photographed in close physical contact with a Vietnamese actress, according to a report from OSEN published on Tuesday. The photos come as the actor continues to face public scrutiny over separate allegations involving his private life and suspected tax evasion.
OSEN reports that the images show Lee and the Vietnamese actress engaging in intimate gestures, including close embraces and what appears to be affectionate contact. The outlet did not identify the actress by name or specify the location or date of the encounter, only noting that it took place in Vietnam.
The new photos arrive amid a turbulent period for the actor. According to OSEN, Lee has been dealing with fallout from a privacy controversy and separate accusations of tax evasion. The outlet did not provide further details on the nature of those allegations or any official response from Lee or his representatives.
Other South Korean outlets, including Money Today and Ilgan Sports, have also covered the photos, with some describing the interaction as a "surprise" given the ongoing controversies. Sports Seoul noted that Lee performed a "knee bow" in Vietnam, a traditional gesture of respect, and commented that while his acting has been well received, his commercial prospects have suffered.
A separate report from Nate framed the encounter more lightly, describing Lee as smelling the actress's hair and closing his eyes in what it called a "cheerful" update on his current activities.
Observers are now watching to see whether Lee or his agency will issue a formal statement addressing the photos and the unresolved allegations. No comment has been reported as of this writing.
