Comedian Kim Byung-man Referred for Domestic Violence...Prosecutors Say "Investigation in Final Stages"

Kim Byung-man's Side "Not a Case of Assault"

Comedian Kim Byung-man has been reported to the prosecution on charges of assaulting his ex-wife.

According to Yonhap News on the 12th, the Uijeongbu Police Station in Gyeonggi Province sent Kim to the prosecution on charges of assault and injury last July.

The Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office, which took over the case, is currently conducting an investigation. A prosecution official explained, "The investigation is almost complete, but the decision on whether to indict or not has not yet been made."

Earlier, Kim Byung-man's ex-wife, Ms. A, filed a police complaint earlier this year, claiming that she had been repeatedly assaulted during disputes over family matters over several years. The police forwarded the case to the prosecution based on medical records submitted by Ms. A, in accordance with the Special Act on the Punishment of Domestic Violence Crimes.

However, Kim Byung-man's side denied the allegations of assaulting his ex-wife. His agency, Skyturtle, stated in a press release, "The claim that Kim Byung-man assaulted his ex-wife Ms. A is not true," and added, "Ms. A made a false accusation to avoid paying the money recognized by the court in the divorce property division."

They continued, "Kim Byung-man has mainly participated in physically demanding variety shows, from 'Law of the Jungle' to 'Survival King.' The appearance fees he earned with difficulty were managed by Ms. A," and added, "Although the property division was decided through the divorce lawsuit, Ms. A holds most of the money Kim Byung-man earned from variety shows, so Kim Byung-man is actually the one who should receive money."