Moon Won (36, real name Park Sang-moon), who is engaged to Shin Ji (43, real name Lee Ji-sun) of the group Koyote, directly addressed various allegations surrounding him.
As public interest in the Shin Ji-Moon Won couple, who promised to marry in the first half of next year, heats up, Shin Ji's fandom is strongly opposing the marriage due to various allegations and statements surrounding her fiancé, Moon Won.
Being aware of this, Moon Won opened up on his social media on the afternoon of the 3rd, saying, "After the news of our marriage, I have heard many stories about myself, and I was concerned that the facts I remember might have been distorted, so I needed time to confirm the accurate facts."
He apologized to Koyote fans and Shin Ji's fans for the discomfort and disappointment they may have felt due to his careless remarks and the controversies surrounding him, particularly regarding the statement made in the YouTube channel 'How Are You' that he "didn't know Shin Ji was a celebrity."
He reiterated his apology, saying, "I am sorry for hurting and causing harm to Shin Ji. As a partner I should walk with, I feel very sorry and ashamed." He also conveyed his apologies to Shin Ji's colleagues, Kim Jong-min and Baekga.
Previously, Shin Ji and Moon Won appeared on the YouTube channel 'How Are You' and confessed their marriage to Koyote members, where he revealed his past marriage and children, and stated about Shin Ji, who has been a singer for 26 years, "I didn't know she was famous. I just saw her as a woman. I thought I should live diligently without making mistakes with her," which raised viewers' eyebrows.
A YouTuber with 470,000 subscribers, 'Knowing Lawyer', expressed a direct opinion on this, saying, "Moon Won is 37 years old, 7 years younger than Shin Ji. However, saying 'I didn't know Ji-sun (Shin Ji) was such a famous person' is no different from saying 'I didn't know she was this rich.' It undermines trust. It seems like he is emphasizing the purity of 'loving her as a woman,' but it doesn't seem pure at all."
He also pointed out, "Shin Ji said she initially didn't know Moon Won was a single father with a child, but as their relationship deepened, she found out. However, Moon Won should have disclosed from the beginning that he was a single father. Most of the divorce-related consultations I have done follow this pattern," adding, "Initially hiding it, then realizing it under the influence of love, often leads to marriage. Divorce is not a flaw, but lying is a flaw," clearly outlining the reasons for opposing the marriage.
In particular, this lawyer advised Shin Ji to definitely draft a 'marital property agreement' if they proceed with the marriage, adding that it should be taken as a sincere suggestion.
Moon Won also clarified various allegations surrounding him. He revealed that he worked in real estate without a real estate agent license, stating, "I started it to make a living. I did not realize that working without a license was wrong, and I will take full responsibility for what I need to be accountable for."
Regarding allegations of bullying friends and juniors during school and military service, and the suspicion of having changed his name three times, he stated, "These are completely unfounded." He acknowledged the fact of marrying due to his ex-wife's pregnancy but denied the allegations of cheating.
On the 23rd of last month, news of Shin Ji and Moon Won's romance and marriage was reported simultaneously. The two are scheduled to marry in the first half of next year and have already taken wedding photos. They have also showcased their affection by releasing a duet song 'Shallaka Dula' on the 26th of last month.
Amid this, revelations about Moon Won have continued, sparking controversy.
A netizen claiming to know Moon Won well pointed out through the anonymous workplace community 'Blind' that "he is a divorced man with a child. He also had an affair in the past and rushed into marriage due to the pregnancy," highlighting his past.
Additionally, another netizen, claiming to be a middle and high school classmate of Moon Won, expressed concern about their marriage, saying, "As someone who served in the military with him, I had a hard time discharging because of him. There are many things to say about his actions and words in the military. I hope they think carefully about marriage."
Shin Ji debuted as the main vocalist of the mixed group Koyote in 1998 and has been a veteran singer for nearly 30 years. The group has maintained its status as a rare mixed group in Korea for a long time and has received much love. Moon Won debuted as a trot singer in 2012 with 'Live with Me'.
