Yul-hee, a former member of the group Laboum, is engaged in a 'divorce war' with Choi Min-hwan of FT Island, who has launched a counterattack. He claims that the real reason for the divorce is not his visits to entertainment venues, but rather Yul-hee's long sleep hours and frequent running away from home.
In an interview with Dispatch on the 13th, Choi Min-hwan reflected on the divorce process. He acknowledged that it was true that he faced a crisis when Yul-hee found out about his visits to entertainment venues in the second half of 2022, but he stated that the fundamental reason for the divorce was Yul-hee's frequent running away and her irregular sleep patterns.
Choi Min-hwan claimed, “Yul-hee sleeps abnormally long. There were times when she slept for 18 to 20 hours a day. When I brought it up, she would get angry and leave the house. She left home more than 20 times over the past five years.” He also emphasized that he is not the one at fault, stating that when he pointed out Yul-hee returning home in the morning after going out at night, she cursed at him in front of his parents, saying things like ‘I’m living this way because of you’ and ‘F***’.
While admitting to visiting entertainment venues during the interview, Choi Min-hwan firmly denied any allegations of prostitution. Last October, Yul-hee revealed recorded conversations suggesting that Choi Min-hwan's visits to entertainment venues were a decisive reason for their divorce, implying prostitution. The recordings included Choi Min-hwan asking for ‘ladies’ and inquiring about nearby hotels, saying, “Is there a hotel around here? A motel is fine too.”
In response, Choi Min-hwan explained, “The venue I visited that day was a karaoke place where we had Yul-hee’s birthday party. I asked about a shirt room because there were no rooms available at the karaoke, and there was absolutely no prostitution involved,” adding, “When we were negotiating the divorce, that issue didn’t even come up, so I’m frustrated that suddenly the issue of entertainment venues is being brought up as a reason for the divorce to demand alimony.”
He continued, “Even after the divorce, I have been considerate of Yul-hee. However, I still question whether such extreme measures were the right choice for the children. I acknowledge my mistakes, but I want to correct the falsehoods, which is why I came forward. I apologize.”
In response to Choi Min-hwan's rebuttal, netizens are engaged in heated discussions.
Some criticized Choi Min-hwan, saying, “I’ve never seen a divorce happen because someone sleeps a lot,” and “If a wife sleeps that much, shouldn’t she see a doctor first?” Meanwhile, other netizens expressed disappointment in Yul-hee, stating, “Yul-hee has no sense of responsibility for the children,” and “We need to hear both sides.”
Meanwhile, Choi Min-hwan and Yul-hee got married in 2017 and have three children, but they divorced in December 2022. Choi Min-hwan obtained custody of the three children, and they agreed not to exchange property or alimony.
However, after Yul-hee exposed Choi Min-hwan's visits to entertainment venues last October, she submitted a request for adjustment to the Seoul Family Court, stating, “I will live as a proud mother to the three children.” She also demanded 100 million won in alimony, 1 billion won in property division, and child support (5 million won per month until May 17, 2037, and 3 million won per month until February 10, 2039).
[Lee Da-gyeom, Star Today Reporter]
