A, who was embroiled in allegations of an affair with UN member Choi Jung-won, shared their feelings after the court ruled that “there was no infidelity.” Currently battling stage 3 lung cancer, A said, “From now on, I just want to live quietly and happily with my child.”
In a phone interview with Hankyung.com on the 22nd, A said, “The truth has finally come out. It seems this may go all the way to the Supreme Court, but I don’t think it will be dismissed,” expressing the resentment and hardships endured so far.
B, A’s husband, had earlier accused Choi Jung-won and his wife A of infidelity in January 2023, publishing a memorandum and a recording. He also filed a lawsuit against Choi, requesting 100 million KRW in damages.
At the time, Choi Jung-won rebutted, saying, “She was not an ex-lover; she was just a neighborhood younger sibling I had known closely with my family since childhood.” A also denied the affair allegations, but B continued to raise suspicions about A and Choi through his social media accounts.
However, on the 19th, the Seoul High Court overturned the first trial ruling during the appeal trial of A and B’s divorce case, determining that the relationship between the two did not constitute infidelity and that the responsibility for the breakdown of the marriage lay with the husband’s coercive behavior. The appellate court ruled:
“It is difficult to recognize that the plaintiff (A) and Choi Jung-won engaged in an act of infidelity as defined under Article 840(1) of the Civil Code, or that such conduct led to the breakdown of the marriage. Rather, it is reasonable to conclude that the conflict arising in the process of resolving this issue was caused by the defendant’s (husband’s) consistently coercive attitude toward the plaintiff, leading to the breakdown of the marriage.”
A’s legal representative, attorney Noh Jong-eon of Jone Law Firm, said, “After the first trial ruling, A endured unbearable suffering under the social stigma of being labeled a ‘mistress.’ Her health severely deteriorated, making it difficult to continue working, and she is still struggling against a serious illness while persevering each day for the sake of her child.”
In September 2022, A reported B for domestic violence. In December of the same year, the police forwarded the case to the prosecution with an indictment opinion, and the court recognized B’s assault charges, sentencing him to a fine. Additionally, B was fined for coercing A into defaming Choi Jung-won.
Amid divorce proceedings and other lawsuits, A discovered that she had lung cancer. She claimed her condition worsened because the hospital contacted her legal guardian, B, but he failed to relay the information.
“When I left home with my child in September 2022, I already had a history of thyroid cancer and was undergoing regular check-ups. After leaving home, I changed my phone number out of fear and hid away, so the hospital couldn’t reach me. They kept calling my husband, who didn’t pass the information on. Even my mother-in-law received calls. Despite being able to contact me through my attorney, I was never informed for two years. By the time I returned for a routine check-up, I was already at stage 3 lung cancer.”
Medical staff reportedly expressed regret, saying, “If it had been detected earlier, it could have been treated with surgery or medication.” If she had gone to the hospital immediately two years earlier, it might have been resolved with simple treatment, but by stage 3, A had to undergo chemotherapy.
A said, “While living with that person, I got cancer twice. In the first trial, his violence and verbal abuse evidence were not properly considered, and the unexpected outcome left me in despair. But in the second trial, every piece of evidence was carefully reviewed, and I am grateful for that. It was just fortunate.”
Although the ruling was given, B posted on Instagram claiming, “There was no financial or personal conflict in the marriage. It was Choi Jung-won who contacted a married woman first, dated her, brought her to his house, and caused the family breakdown, violating marital duties. Yet Choi was excluded, and the worst ruling was written.”
He also criticized the custody ruling, saying, “The mistress is raising the child well, but the court completely rejected my intention to raise the child myself. It was the worst judgment. She falsely accused me, filed a restraining order, and made the child miss school for two months. She is a vile child abuser.”
A responded, “Due to domestic violence, I fled with my child for 40 days. I continuously requested a secret school transfer, but the school was cautious about whose side to take. My child personally told the principal and vice principal about his father’s violence, recorded the statement, and wrote it by hand, which enabled the secret transfer. The child abuse charges actually apply to the father.”
She continued, “(B) accused me of neglect for not sending my child to school for 40 days, but I worked from home, stayed with my child for safety, and kept in contact with the school, which proved my innocence. On the contrary, the investigation revealed the father’s abuse, and on the police’s suggestion, I filed child abuse charges. But since the child is young and the only evidence was testimony, it wasn’t recognized.”
She concluded, “Now my child and I are living a quiet and stable life. Though the time was painful, I hope not to suffer anymore from distorted truths.”
She also stressed, “My ex-husband is fabricating statements not even written in the ruling, such as ‘It was an inappropriate relationship but not infidelity,’ thereby insulting the judge. The court never referred to it as an inappropriate relationship.”
Here are some of the reactions from Korean netizens:
The case sparked mixed reactions among Korean netizens, with some expressing sympathy for the singer after his acquittal of the false charges, while others were shocked by the disturbing details of his wife’s health and her husband’s cruel behavior.
- “Mr. Choi Jung-won, as a UN member, personally had a graceful appearance, wit, and character that I liked. Now that he has been cleared of false accusations, I think he deserves to be congratulated. Congratulations again.”
- “If you look at that husband’s Instagram, he’s out of his mind, ㅠㅠ. The best thing is not to get involved.”
- “In September 2022, A reported Mr. B for domestic violence, and in December of the same year, the police forwarded the case to the prosecution with an indictment opinion. Regarding this, the court recognized Mr. B’s assault charges and sentenced him to a fine. He was also fined for coercing A into defaming Choi Jung-won.”
- “How strict are the courts when they make judgments… There must have been some unfairness. When I saw the husband’s Instagram, it was weird… Looking at who among my mutuals followed him… all people who seemed unhinged.”
- “Wow… no matter how much you hate her, even if you’re in the middle of a divorce, she was still your wife and the mother of your child. How could he not tell her about her lung cancer for two years and let it progress to a terminal stage? Even the devil would bow down to that. Is this something a human could do..?”
- “Sigh ㅠㅠ That woman is really pitiful.”
