“Law of the Jungle” Comedian Denies Domestic Violence Accusation—Claims Ex-Wife Is Using Him For $2M

Comedian Kim Byung Man (also known as Kim Byoung Man) has denied all allegations of domestic violence after his ex-wife claimed that he beat her throughout their marriage.

On November 12, 2024 (KST), Kim’s ex-wife informed a Korean media outlet that she had filed a police report for Kim’s “habitual assault” of her and that the case was sent to the prosecutor back in July 2024. She alleged that she was beaten and that her daughter, who was born during her marriage to her previous ex-husband, witnessed the beating on four occasions.

Following the ex-wife’s claim, Kim’s management shared, “The claim that Kim Byung Man assaulted his ex-wife is not true.” Kim’s management clarified that the ex-wife filed a lawsuit to “avoid paying the amount ruled by the court” for dividing their assets in the divorce process.

Kim’s ex-wife filed a lawsuit with a false accusation to avoid paying the amount ruled by the court for property division in their divorce. The case has already been sent to the prosecution with a non-indictment recommendation from the police, and no assault was acknowledged in the Supreme Court ruling.

— SKY TURTLE

In addition, Kim’s management revealed that Kim’s ex-wife was currently demanding a huge amount of money in exchange for removing her adult daughter from Kim’s family registry. The revelation suggested Kim’s ex-wife using Kim for money, as she was said to be holding most of the earnings Kim made from appearing in physically demanding shows like Law of the Jungle and Survival King, all the while having taken out numerous life insurance policies under his name.

Kim has been prominent in taking on physically demanding roles in shows like Law of the Jungle and Survival King. When married, his ex-wife managed Kim’s hard-earned money. Then, after the divorce proceedings and the court ruling how the assets should be divided, the ex-wife kept most of the money Kim earned. He’s in a position to receive his share. Even after the divorce, the the ex-wife demanded ₩30 KRW (about $0.02 USD) from Kim to disinherit and remove her adult daughter (born from another marriage) from Kim’s family registry. Kim was shocked to learn during the divorce proceedings that his ex-wife had taken out numerous life insurance policies under his name.

— SKY TURTLE

Kim’s management apologized on behalf of Kim for “having to share such personal matters and raising concerns.”

Kim registered his marriage to the ex-wife, a non-celebrity woman 7 years older than him, back in 2011. The two split in November 2023, after having lived apart for a decade. It was on Channel A‘s Friend Documentary: Table For Four that Kim revealed, “I was afraid to disclose the divorce because I feared letting go would collapse all that I’ve built since debut.”

Although my ex-wife had brought a child with her, I felt so alone. I provided enough support for her child. Now that the child is an adult, I told her that I’d like to move on. Several times. But she treated it as silly complaints. It was inevitable to go to court. Since she and I couldn’t come to an agreement, I had no choice but to seek the power of the law.

— Kim Byung Man