Yoon Ji-oh "Only Told the Truth"... Legal Action Against Late Jang Ja-yeon's Former Agency CEO

Actor Yoon Ji-oh announced on the 26th that she will take legal action against Mr. A, the late Jang Ja-yeon's agency representative, who filed a lawsuit for damages against her.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Actress Yoon Ji-oh has announced legal action against Mr. A, the late Jang Ja-yeon's former agency The Contents Entertainment CEO, who filed a damages lawsuit against her.

Earlier, on the 1st, Mr. A filed a damages lawsuit totaling 1 billion KRW, seeking 500 million KRW each against Mr. B, CEO of TH Company and former road manager of Jang Ja-yeon, and Yoon Ji-oh at the Seoul Central District Court.

Mr. A claimed that Yoon Ji-oh, having worked only a short period at The Contents Entertainment under his leadership, did not know the internal circumstances well but acted in a way that made him appear as the person who forced sexual bribery on Jang Ja-yeon.

In response, on the 26th, Yoon Ji-oh issued a statement through her legal representative, Attorney Park Kyung-soo of the law firm Jireumgil, stating, "I personally knew the deceased before signing an exclusive contract with The Contents, and as a rookie actress who joined The Contents around the same time as the deceased, I was taken to various places requested by Mr. A along with the deceased."

She added, "During the 12 years of investigations and trials related to the deceased's death, I have been a key witness and reference person, speaking only the truth without any hesitation in my conscience."

Regarding claims that she testified on broadcast to portray Mr. A as a perpetrator of sexual assault coercion, Yoon Ji-oh explained, "I never characterized or mentioned Mr. A as an offender; I only referred to facts that should be uncovered by investigative authorities."

She also stated, "It is true that Mr. A never forcibly poured or made me drink alcohol at social drinking gatherings, but since these were social drinking occasions, Mr. A had to present himself well, showing a thoroughly polished and restrained demeanor to others."

Furthermore, she explained, "The psychological pressure of potentially having to pay a penalty of 100 million KRW if I refused to attend social drinking events disguised as events or functions, along with Mr. A's violent tendencies displayed in front of agency actors and models, acted as factors suppressing free decision-making regarding attendance at these gatherings."

Currently, Yoon Ji-oh is under accusation for defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act and fraud related to sponsorship funds, and she is residing in Canada. The Ministry of Justice has initiated extradition procedures against Yoon Ji-oh.