[SC Issue] Yulhee, a former member of the group LABOUM, has initiated a legal battle against her ex-husband, Choi Minhwan, reportedly as part of a larger plan involving custody. On the 4th, Yulhee submitted a mediation request to the Seoul Family Court for the change of custodian, alimony, and division of property.
Yulhee and Choi Minhwan got married in 2018 and had one son and two daughters but divorced in December last year. After the divorce, Choi Minhwan was granted custody of the three children, while Yulhee faced criticism as an “abandoning mother.”
However, the situation took a dramatic turn on the 24th of last month when Yulhee made revelations against Choi Minhwan. She accused him of visiting entertainment establishments during their marriage and sexually harassing her in front of his parents. She also released a recording of a phone conversation between Choi Minhwan and a manager of such an establishment, in which he insisted on booking a meeting despite being advised to spend time with his family.
As a result, public opinion towards Choi Minhwan rapidly deteriorated, and Yulhee has now proceeded with legal actions to assert her rights. The focus is now on whether Yulhee can regain custody of her children.
Yulhee disclosed that during initial divorce discussions, Choi Minhwan proposed a settlement of 50 million won and child support of 2 million won, which she found insufficient for a family of four. Overwhelmed and exhausted, she didn’t have the strength to fight it at that time. However, even though their divorce was finalized through mutual agreement, claims for property division can be made within two years and for alimony within three years of the divorce date.
Choi Minhwan is currently under investigation by the police for violations of the Anti-Prostitution Act and the Sexual Violence Punishment Act (forced molestation through a relative relationship). The outcome of the police investigation is likely to significantly influence Yulhee’s legal actions.
This may particularly affect the custody of their children. However, experts state that the prostitution charges alone may not heavily impact custody decisions unless there were issues of child abuse, which was not the case since Yulhee had initially agreed to Choi Minhwan holding custody based on realistic conditions. Due to Choi Minhwan’s departure from KBS2’s “The Return of Superman” and the halt in his activities with FT Island, affecting his economic activities, there may still be room for negotiation in her favor.