The court has overturned the first trial ruling regarding singer Choi Jung-won's affair allegations.
On the 22nd, lawyer Noh Jong-eon from the law firm Jeongji, representing woman A, who is involved in the affair allegations against Choi Jung-won, stated, “On September 19, the Seoul High Court ruled in the appeal of the divorce lawsuit between A and her husband that their relationship does not constitute infidelity and that the responsibility for the breakdown of the marriage lies with the husband's coercive attitude, thereby overturning the first trial ruling.”
Previously, the first trial court had judged the meeting between Choi Jung-won and A as ‘infidelity’ and ruled that the main responsibility for the breakdown of the marriage lay with A.
However, the appellate court stated in its ruling, “It is difficult to recognize that A and Choi Jung-won engaged in acts that constitute infidelity as defined in Article 840, Paragraph 1 of the Civil Code, or that this led to the breakdown of the marriage. Rather, it is reasonable to view that the conflicts arising from this were exacerbated by the defendant (husband) maintaining a coercive attitude towards the plaintiff and others, leading to the breakdown of the marriage.”
Lawyer Noh stated, “After the first trial ruling, A has endured countless painful times under the social stigma of being labeled a ‘mistress.’ As a result, her health has seriously deteriorated, making it difficult for her to continue her work, and she is still struggling against serious illness, enduring each day for her child.”
He added, “Since the first trial ruling, the existing reports suggesting that Choi Jung-won and A were in an affair have been proven to be untrue through the higher court's judgment. I earnestly hope that the facts will be corrected and that A can somewhat recover from the social stigma and damaged reputation she has suffered.”
The affair allegations against Choi Jung-won became known when A's husband, B, filed a lawsuit seeking 100 million won in damages against Choi Jung-won in December 2022. In response, Choi Jung-won refuted, saying, “She was not an ex-lover but just a neighborhood younger sister whom my family has known closely since childhood.”
Subsequently, Choi Jung-won and B engaged in a defamation lawsuit, but both sides were found not guilty by the police.
[Lee Da-kyum, Star Today Reporter]
