Following Yul-hee's revelations, this time it's Choi Min-hwan's counterattack. He acknowledged visiting bars but claimed that the real reason for their divorce was 'Yul-hee's excessive sleeping and running away.'
On the 13th, Dispatch revisited the divorce process through an interview with Choi Min-hwan. According to the report, it is true that the couple faced a crisis when Yul-hee discovered that Choi Min-hwan had been visiting bars in the second half of 2022, but the fundamental reason for the divorce was Yul-hee's frequent absences and her irregular sleeping habits.
Choi Min-hwan stated, “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 in 5 years.”
He also mentioned that during his service as a full-time reserve from February 4, 2020, to September 2, 2021, a caretaker came to help, and after work, he and his mother took care of the children. Yul-hee would go out at night and return in the morning, and when he pointed this out, she would curse at him, saying things like, 'Who do you think I’m living with because of?' and 'Damn it.'
In particular, in 2023, while Choi Min-hwan was preparing for an FT Island concert, the family was going through a tough time due to the death of his grandmother and their pet dog, yet Yul-hee ran away again during this period. Although she later apologized, saying she would never do it again, she did not keep her promise and repeatedly followed the pattern of going out at night and returning in the early morning. Ultimately, he claimed that this led him to decide on divorce.
The couple married in 2017 and had one son and two daughters, but they divorced in December 2022. Choi Min-hwan obtained custody of the three children, and they agreed not to exchange property division or alimony.
Afterward, Yul-hee faced public criticism as the 'mother who abandoned her children' and in October 2024, she revealed that “Choi Min-hwan sexually harassed me in front of his parents during our marriage and visited entertainment establishments.” This led to a wave of public condemnation against Choi Min-hwan, who was investigated by the police for sexual harassment and prostitution allegations, but the Gangnam Police Station dismissed the case due to insufficient evidence.
Following her revelations, Yul-hee submitted a request for adjustment to change parental rights and custodianship to the Seoul Family Court last year. 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). Additionally, she claimed unfair treatment from his parents.
In response, Choi Min-hwan stated, “The bar I went to that day was the karaoke 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,” while also acknowledging, “Yul-hee might have misunderstood. I admitted my mistakes, apologized, and reflected on them.”
He also emphasized, “My parents did not make Yul-hee do housework and treated her very well. The building was purchased for 2 billion won, combining money I earned from FT Island activities in 2015, money borrowed from my parents, and a loan of 870 million won, with not a single won from Yul-hee.”
He added that he paid a penalty of 125 million won demanded by Yul-hee's former agency due to her leaving LABOUM because of her premarital pregnancy and marriage, and also covered 31.44 million won in income from Yul-hee's earnings of over 200 million won from CFs in 2020 and 2021. Additionally, he mentioned that he gave her 50 million won before the divorce and 20 million won after the divorce.
Yul-hee's side has not yet released any statement regarding this matter.
