Kim Hee-Sun: Threatened into being nude model

Top actress Kim Hee-Sun, the 23-year-old movie start and TV actress who admittedly was threatened into being a nude model for the album of her pictures taken, was answering an open question by Gimm-Young Publishers, which has the right to publish the album of Kim`s picture taken by Cho (Se-Kwon), during a press conference at Grand Hyatt Seoul.

As to the question about if she had a prior knowledge of the contract about the nude pictures, she said, "I saw some nude pictures taken by Cho. I asked him if I had to have similar pictures taken, but Cho said she need not do so. I understood that there would no be nude pictures to be taken." She also said that conditions in Africa did not allow her to make a telephone call (to confirm the content of the contract) to Seoul.

Earlier in the day, Kim filed criminal complaints against Gimm-Young Publishers, photographer Cho and her manager Lee Chul-Jung.

Meanwhile, the publishing company said that the contract was signed between Kim`s manager and the photographer, and it has nothing to do with the company.

A company spokesperson said, "We are considering lodging suits for libel and compensation for damage against Kim and her manager."

Yun Jeong-Hoon digana@donga.com