Singer Kim Hyun-joong countersues ex-girlfriend

South Korean singer and actor Kim Hyun-joong salutes during a ceremony at a boot camp for the Army’s 30th Division in Goyang, northwest of Seoul, on May 12, 2015, to mark the new conscripts’ entry into the camp. All able-bodied South Korean men are required to serve almost two years in the military. (Yonhap)

(Yonhap) — Singer and actor Kim Hyun-joong has sued his ex-girlfriend for wrongfully accusing him of causing her miscarriage, his legal representative said Wednesday.

The 29-year-old lodged a counterclaim of 1.2 billion won (US$1.0 million) last Saturday in response to a damages suit filed by his ex-girlfriend, identified only by her surname Choi, Kim’s attorney Lee Jae-man said.

Choi is seeking 1.6 billion won in compensation for the psychological trauma Kim allegedly caused her.

The Kim-Choi saga started last August when Choi accused the singer of beating her and causing her to miscarry. Believing this as the truth, Kim at the time paid her 600 million won as hush money, Lee said.

Kim, however, recently found out from Choi’s gynecologists that she was never pregnant.

Lee said the sum doesn’t include the financial loss Choi has caused Kim for making false accusations.

Kim plans to lodge another counterclaim once his management agency confirms the extent of the financial damages.

Kim had earlier admitted to the charge of physical abuse and was fined 5 million won in January.

The drama flared up again when Choi filed a suit in April to seek compensation from Kim for causing her psychological suffering.