Hallyu star Lee Byung-hun repeatedly denied allegations that he was in a relationship with a model.

Lee’s refutation came during a closed-door court hearing on a blackmailing case on Monday, which lasted nearly three hours.

It was the second trial hearing on the scandal involving Lee, model Lee Ji-yeon and girl group GLAM member Dahee. Earlier, Lee sued the two women, claiming that they demanded 5 billion won ($4.7 million) in return for not disclosing a videotape of him having a lewd conversation with them.

Actor Lee Byung-hun leaves the Seoul Central District Court on Monday. (OSEN)

During the second hearing, Lee confronted the two women for the first time since the case was brought to the police in August. He did not attend the first hearing. According to news reports, the actor denied model Lee’s allegations that the two were in a relationship.

When the model defendant presented one of their KakaoTalk conversations to prove that they were in a relationship, the actor reportedly struck back, saying, “It was a joke” and “I do not recall.”

After attending the hearing, the actor left the courtroom with a horde of news reporters and photographers waiting outside. Upon leaving the courtroom, the actor said, “I have been truthful and sincere about my witnesses at the court, and will wait for the court’s decision accordingly.”

The blackmailing scandal became known to the public when actor Lee turned to the police on Aug. 28. Model Lee and singer Dahee, aged 24 and 20, respectively, were arrested by the police on Sept. 1 and attended the first court hearing on Oct. 16.

The scandal broke out nearly 15 months after actor Lee married actress Lee Min-jung in August 2013.

(khnews@heraldcorp.com)