South Korean actor Han Ji Sang has resurfaced to address a long-running controversy involving accusations from his former girlfriend, revealing new details about the incident that once cost him major career opportunities.
The scandal first erupted when Han Ji Sang was accused of sexual assault by his ex-girlfriend, identified as “A.” At the time, the accusations led to severe consequences for the actor, including the cancellation of his appointment as a lecturer in the Department of Acting at Sungkyunkwan University. He was also reportedly removed from multiple projects and effectively disappeared from television broadcasts during the height of the controversy.
According to reports, Han Ji Sang and A began dating in May 2018 but broke up later that year. The actor stated that he initiated the breakup due to differences in lifestyle and personal values. Shortly after the separation, A allegedly sent him text messages accusing him of sexual harassment and rape just minutes before he was scheduled to perform in the stage production Ben-Hur.
The situation escalated further when A anonymously posted an online message accusing the actor of rape. Although the post was later deleted without explanation, the allegations spread quickly online. Public backlash intensified, and Han Ji Sang either withdrew from or was removed from the projects he was involved in at the time.
Now speaking publicly about the matter, Han Ji Sang firmly denied all accusations of sexual assault. He stated that he has never been punished or convicted for such crimes and intends to take strong legal action against malicious online comments.
“Our conversation was completely normal, and feelings developed naturally during the meeting,” the actor explained. “We had drinks together, the atmosphere became comfortable, and we were mutually attracted to each other. There were intimate moments, but they were not one-sided or forced.”
To support his claim, Han Ji Sang also released an audio recording in which A allegedly admitted that he did not assault her. In the recording, she reportedly said: “You didn’t harass me. It wasn’t one-sided. I liked those moments too. Legally, you didn’t do anything wrong.”
After their meeting, Han Ji Sang said he offered compensation to A, explaining that he wanted to apologize for hurting her emotionally by ending the relationship. However, the situation reportedly escalated when A demanded a much larger settlement.
According to the actor, his former girlfriend requested between 500 million and 1 billion won (approximately $380,000 to $760,000 USD), or alternatively asked him to maintain a public relationship with her for one year in exchange for staying silent.
“If someone threatens me with allegations of assault, how can I date that person?” Han Ji Sang said. “When I asked her lawyer what I had done wrong to deserve paying 500 million won, the amount suddenly dropped to 300 million won.”
Believing he was being extorted, the actor filed a complaint accusing A of attempted blackmail. However, authorities ultimately concluded that her actions did not meet the legal threshold for criminal extortion. At the same time, investigators also confirmed that there was no evidence supporting claims of sexual assault or harassment against Han Ji Sang.
Born in 1982, Han Ji Sang entered the Korean entertainment industry at the age of 21. Over the years, he gained recognition for roles in television dramas such as Rosy Lovers, Catch the Ghost, and Haechi.
Despite the absence of evidence confirming the allegations, the scandal significantly damaged his public image and career, illustrating how quickly controversies can reshape an actor’s trajectory in the Korean entertainment industry.
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