Shin Jung-hwan and Kang Byeong-kyu Discuss Kim Gun-mo's Scandal

On February 24, broadcasters Shin Jung-hwan (신정환) and Kang Byeong-kyu (강병규) addressed the scandal surrounding singer Kim Gun-mo (김건모) in a video titled 'Endless Controversies and Scandals' on the YouTube channel 'Channel Gojeonghae' (채널 고정해). The discussion featured guests Lim Deok-young (임덕영) and Jang Hye-ri (장혜리).

They identified Kim Gun-mo's alleged sexual assault case as one of the worst scandals in the entertainment industry. Kang Byeong-kyu expressed his shock, stating, "This was truly shocking. I had never heard of such a thing, nor could I have predicted it. The woman claiming to be a victim demanded an apology, while her supporters, lawyer Kang Yong-seok (강용석) and journalist Kim Yong-ho (김용호), were reportedly asking for money."

He continued, "Kim Gun-mo's brother had a forensic examination done to check for messages exchanged with the woman, but nothing was found. The woman claimed she was overpowered despite having firmly rejected Kim Gun-mo when they were alone together, yet she couldn't even remember who he was. In the end, the conclusion was no charges. This destroyed a person's life, shattered a family, and buried a national singer's career, yet it was deemed 'no charges'!"

Shin Jung-hwan lamented, "Kim Gun-mo's home was completely devastated. Even now, people are unsure whether he was found innocent. They don't even seem curious about it."

The controversy began in December 2019 when the YouTube channel Garoseyro Research Institute (가로세로연구소) claimed that Kim Gun-mo had sexually assaulted a female employee, referred to as A, at a nightclub in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam, in 2016. A filed a lawsuit against him, but Kim Gun-mo's side denied the allegations, calling them baseless. The channel also alleged that he had assaulted another female manager, referred to as B, in January 2007.

Kim Gun-mo countersued A, and as evidence began to emerge that cast doubt on the claims made by A, B, and the channel, the police referred both Kim Gun-mo for sexual assault and A for false accusations to the prosecution. However, in 2021, the prosecution dismissed the sexual assault charges against Kim Gun-mo, citing inconsistencies in A's statements. A's appeals were rejected, and a request for a retrial was also denied, leading to Kim Gun-mo being completely exonerated.

Despite this, the fallout from the incident forced Kim Gun-mo to leave his role on SBS's 'My Ugly Duckling' (미운 우리 새끼) and cancel his 25th-anniversary concert, effectively halting his career. His personal life also suffered; his mother's health deteriorated, and he divorced pianist Jang Ji-yeon (장지연) after two years and eight months of marriage. Following these events, Kim Gun-mo has reportedly withdrawn from public life, feeling disillusioned with the entertainment industry and the world around him.