SEOUL • South Korean director Kim Ki Duk states that he "cannot say that I haven't done something embarrassing, but I am not a rapist that PD Notebook depicted me to be".

He is referring to the South Korean television show whose recent episode featured three unnamed actresses giving accounts of his alleged sexual misconduct.

One of the women had filed a criminal complaint against Kim, 57, last year for slapping her and forcing her to do a sex scene without prior consent while shooting Moebius (2013).

Kim said: "I have suffered great damage from the false accusations, report and TV production based on false information."

According to industry sources, he recently filed the suit with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, with the Moebius actress cited over false accusations.

He also sued the other two actresses, who claimed they were sexually harassed by him, and the MBC show PD Notebook for defamation.

In December, the prosecution dropped the case brought by the Moebius actress due to a lack of evidence, but Kim was fined US$4,650 (S$6,200) for slapping her.

According to The Korea Herald, PD Notebook producer Han Hak Soo revealed on his social media account that the production staff had confirmed specific facts regarding the accusations brought up by the three women through various channels.

"The production team is sorry that Kim, who didn't make an objection during the (investigation), has now filed a lawsuit," the post read.

"It would have been a hard decision for the actresses to come forward, but now they are being sued."

Kim, who won the Golden Lion for Pieta at the Venice Film Festival in 2012, was invited to this year's Berlin International Film Festival for his recent movie, Human, Space, Time And Human, amid the controversies.