South Korean actress Lee Ji-ah dropped an alimony lawsuit against singer Seo Tai-ji on Saturday, days after news of the lawsuit shocked the public who had been kept in the dark about the couple's marriage.

Lee's attorney said the rising television actress has withdrawn the lawsuit as revelations of her marriage and divorce were causing "extreme mental distress" to her and those close to her.

News of the lawsuit came on April 21 when a local sports daily reported that Lee, in January, had filed for 5 billion won (US$4.6

million) for her share of matrimonial properties and for 500 million won in alimony against Seo.

Earlier Saturday, the 39-year-old musician confirmed his previous relationship to Lee in his first public statement since news broke of the lawsuit. Acknowledging his "secret" marriage to Lee in the United States in 1997, Seo said in a press release that the couple were not able to overcome differences in personality and future plans. That eventually led to their separation in 2000 and legal divorce in 2006, he said.

The recent revelations came as a greater shock to the public as both Seo and his 33-year-old ex-wife were cast as enigmatic figures, who kept their private lives strictly to themselves.

(Yonhap news)