SEOUL (THE KOREA HERALD/ASIAN NEWS NETWORK) - Actor Cha Seung Won was cleared of libel charges after the biological father of his stepson Cha No Ah dropped the case, the actor's agency said on Wednesday.

According to YG Entertainment, No-ah's biological father, only identified by his surname Cho, dropped his 100 million won (S$118 million) lawsuit against the action movie star, after the actor issued an official apology.

Cha apologized for telling a "white lie" about his stepson No Ah, a professional gamer, by alleging they were biologically related.

"My wife and I admit that we told a bit of a lie for No Ah," the 44-year-old father of the 22-year-old told local sports daily Sports Dong-a. "Our apologies to everyone. We could not tell everything as it was. We ask for your understanding," he added.

The controversy stemmed from a book of essays by the actor's wife, Lee Soo Jin, that was published in 1999.

Some parts about bringing up No Ah, such as the portrayal of Cha Seung Won and Lee together watching the squirming baby turning over for the first time, turned out to be totally made up.

Lee was a divorcee when she married Cha and No Ah is her son from her previous marriage.

"The kid did not know that he was not blood-related. … I am doing alright -- I am making it through without emotional breakdowns," the actor was quoted as saying.

No Ah was recently charged with drug abuse.