Veteran South Korean actor Kim Seung-woo (김승우) is embroiled in a theft allegation, with the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul confirming an ongoing investigation into the matter. The controversy centers on a payment of ₩30 million (approximately NT$650,000), with both parties offering conflicting accounts of its nature.
According to reports, Kim Seung-woo is accused of taking ₩22 million (approximately NT$470,000). However, two days after the alleged incident, ₩30 million was transferred from Kim Seung-woo's account to the accuser, identified as 'A'. Kim Seung-woo's side claims this payment was a return of the previously taken funds. Conversely, A argues that the ₩30 million was a 10% profit from a ₩300 million investment, as per their agreement, and completely unrelated to the ₩22 million that was allegedly taken.
A filed a theft complaint against Kim Seung-woo in July of this year. According to A, the incident occurred on October 29, 2021, at an entertainment venue in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul. A alleges that while they briefly left their seat, Kim Seung-woo took cash and checks totaling approximately ₩22 million from their wallet, which was inside their bag.
In response, Kim Seung-woo's representatives did not deny taking the money but emphasized that it was not theft, but rather a "joke between acquaintances." They stated that other friends were present at the time, the money was taken openly, and there was an intention to return it within a few hours when they met again, thus denying any intent to steal.
Kim Seung-woo's side also pointed out that the funds were later returned via bank transfer, asserting that the transaction records prove there was no intent to steal.
However, the core of the dispute lies in the nature of the "₩30 million payment." It is understood that two days after the incident, on October 31, 2021, Kim Seung-woo transferred ₩30 million to A. Kim Seung-woo's side considers this transfer as proof of returning the ₩22 million.
A's account, however, is entirely different. A claims that the ₩30 million was a profit earned from a ₩300 million investment, calculated at a 10% return rate as agreed upon by both parties, and was not intended to repay the ₩22 million that was taken. A further stated that the ₩330 million received at the time comprised the ₩300 million investment principal plus the ₩30 million profit, and the ₩22 million taken was a separate amount. In other words, if the ₩22 million were also included in the amount to be returned, A believes they should have received a total of ₩352 million.
Consequently, the same ₩30 million bank transfer record is interpreted completely differently by both parties. For Kim Seung-woo, it is "proof of returning ₩22 million"; but in A's eyes, it is "the agreed-upon profit from a ₩300 million investment."
Beyond whether the ₩22 million constitutes theft, the police investigation will focus on whether Kim Seung-woo had an intent to steal when he took the money, and whether the subsequent ₩30 million transfer was a "repayment" or "investment profit."
Furthermore, A revealed that they had been acquainted with Kim Seung-woo since 2019, maintaining a close relationship. From 2020 onwards, they reportedly visited entertainment venues together 70 to 80 times over a five-year period.
A further accused Kim Seung-woo of repeatedly taking cash ranging from ₩300,000 to ₩500,000 (approximately NT$6,800 to NT$11,000) from their wallet without permission in the past, and even once taking ₩1 million (approximately NT$22,000). According to A, these funds were primarily used to pay tips to female escorts.
A stated that they had repeatedly warned Kim Seung-woo not to casually take their wallet or money from it. However, at the gathering on October 29, 2021, Kim Seung-woo allegedly took as much as ₩22 million, which ultimately led A to file a lawsuit.
In response to the allegations, Kim Seung-woo's representatives stated that they have submitted relevant documents, including bank transaction records, to the investigative authorities and provided necessary explanations. They emphasized that they would take strong legal action against any false accusations.
However, beyond this theft controversy, Kim Seung-woo's past romantic history is equally newsworthy. His relationships with ex-wife Lee Mi-yeon (이미연) and current wife Kim Nam-joo (김남주) once sparked speculation about a "love triangle" due to a single comment.
Kim Seung-woo and actress Lee Mi-yeon met and began dating after collaborating on the 1994 film Marriage Story (결혼만들기). They married on March 11 the following year. At the time, Lee Mi-yeon was at the peak of her acting career, and Kim Seung-woo's popularity was also rising, leading them to be considered a star couple in the entertainment industry. However, their marriage lasted approximately 5 years and 7 months before they officially divorced in 2000.
Five years after his divorce, Kim Seung-woo remarried, this time to renowned actress Kim Nam-joo. They dated for about a year before marrying in 2005. They have a son and a daughter and have been married for over 20 years, long considered one of the representative celebrity couples in the South Korean entertainment industry.
However, what truly reignited interest in this romantic history was a comment made by Lee Mi-yeon years later. In a 2007 program, when discussing her divorce from Kim Seung-woo, Lee Mi-yeon revealed that it was "not just a matter between two people, but also involved others." This statement immediately sparked public speculation and brought the long-circulating rumors of a "third party" back to the surface.
As Kim Seung-woo married Kim Nam-joo after his divorce, the public began to connect the two events, even leading to speculation about whether Kim Nam-joo had intervened in Kim Seung-woo and Lee Mi-yeon's marriage. Some Korean entertainment reports even revisited this past as a "Kim Nam-joo, Kim Seung-woo, Lee Mi-yeon love triangle."
It is worth noting, however, that while Lee Mi-yeon mentioned "others" at the time, she did not publicly name anyone or confirm that Kim Nam-joo was the alleged "third party." Therefore, these claims remain at the level of public speculation and rumors and have not been officially confirmed by those involved.
Now that Kim Seung-woo is back in the news due to theft allegations, in addition to the questions of whether the ₩22 million constitutes theft and whether the ₩30 million is a repayment or investment profit, his "love triangle" involving ex-wife Lee Mi-yeon and current wife Kim Nam-joo has also resurfaced, making Kim Seung-woo's past romantic history a hot topic among Korean netizens once again.
