Shin Seong-il reveals love affair with Kim Young-ae

In a new biography, actor Shin Seong-il revealed for the first time his love affair and pregnancy with his deceased ex-lover, newscaster and actress Kim Young-ae.

At a press conference for his new book "Youth is Barefoot Running" on Dec. 5, the veteran actor spoke of his past extra-martial affair with actress Kim whilst he was still married to his wife, actress Eum Aeng-ran.

The 74-year-old film star said that his new book contains the never-before-told story about Shin's affair with Kim, which began in 1973.
"It's not right to love another when you are married, but this woman that I loved is now dead. She died in a car accident and that's why I can now talk about it. It'd be wrong and cowardly for me to speak of her if she was still alive".

The actor said he met up with Kim mostly overseas and found out about her pregnancy through an overseas call from the actress.

"This happened back in the days when you had to shout to hear the caller from overseas. I went to a friend's office to avoid family members to talk to her. I should have been more vocal to her but I said nothing. Then she said, 'I'll take care of it' and later I found out she got an abortion", Shin said.

According to Shin, the couple was reunited a year later at the Berlin Film Festival. He also said that Kim was "the greatest love of his life".
Shin is a celebrated film star in Korea best known for the movie "Romance Papa" from the 1960s.

By Carla Sunwoo