Lee Seo-won

On May 16, 2018, news broke that Lee was charged with sexual harassment and threatening a female celebrity with a weapon.[9][10][11] Lee was charged and investigated on April 8, before the police sent his case to the prosecution with a recommendation of indictment.[12] According to authorities, Lee was drinking with said female celebrity when he attempted to kiss her and make physical contact, but was rejected.[13] After continuous attempts for physical contact, the victim called her boyfriend to ask for help, which caused Lee to threaten her with a knife.[14] Lee remained silent and continued filming the 2018 television series About Time and program Music Bank for 40 days without informing the production staff that he was under investigation.[15] However, when news broke out, Lee, who was supposed to appear in About Time,[16] was pulled out and his scenes were re-filmed using another actor.[17][18] He was also removed from his role as the host of Music Bank.[19][20]

On May 24, 2018, Lee apologized for his actions while visiting the Seoul District Public Prosecutors’ Office for interrogation.[21][22] On July 12, the first day of trial at the Seoul Eastern District Court, Lee plead guilty to charges of sexual harassment and criminal threats.[23] Lee's attorney stated that they acknowledge guilt since Lee's DNA was detected on the victim's ear and he was apprehended by police while holding a knife.[24] However, he also stated that Lee was "unable to remember anything from the incident" and was "not in control of his body due to intoxication",[25] and requested a lenient sentence due to Lee's "diminished mental and physical faculties" cause by intoxication.[26][27] The second trial, which was on October 6, 2018, was held privately at the request of the victim.[28][29] During the hearing, one witness, the victim's boyfriend who saw Lee swinging the knife,[30] was called to the stand for testimony and to undergo questioning.[31] The victim testified in court on third trial that was held on October 25.[32][33] The fourth trial was scheduled for November 22,[34] however, Lee enlisted for his military service and planned to attend his trial through the military court with the status of a soldier. The courts postponed his fourth hearing to be held in January 2019,[35][36] but the Seoul Eastern District Court transferred the case to the military court on February 27.[37] In the first trial, Lee was sentenced to one year in prison suspended for two years of probation.[38] He has since appealed the sentence and the case is being reviewed in the High Military Court.[38]