The ongoing conflict between F.T.Island member Choi Minhwan and his ex-wife Yulhee has flared up again following Minhwan’s recent allegations in an interview with Dispatch. Choi Minhwan cited Yulhee’s frequent absences and abnormal sleeping patterns as reasons for their divorce. However, Yulhee has refuted these claims as unfounded and announced her intention to address the matter legally.
On January 14, Star News reported that Yulhee did not acknowledge any of the reasons Choi provided during his interview with Dispatch, published on January 13. In the interview, Choi Minhwan denied that their divorce was due to his visits to adult nightlife establishments, asserting instead that Yulhee’s excessive sleep and frequent disappearances from home were the primary issues.
Choi Minhwan claimed that Yulhee would sleep 18 to 20 hours a day and sometimes leave home without notice for periods ranging from one or two days to up to 10 days, often staying at her parents' house.
Yulhee’s representatives dismissed these claims as illogical, stating, “The idea that she was only awake for four hours a day is absurd and defies common sense.” They also criticized Choi Minhwan’s use of the term "running away" to describe Yulhee temporarily staying with her parents during their conflicts and denied any neglect of her childcare responsibilities.
Despite the serious nature of Choi Minhwa’s allegations, Yulhee has chosen not to respond publicly. While she had prepared an official statement, she ultimately decided against engaging in a media battle, citing concerns about public fatigue. According to reports, her team deemed Choi Minhwan’s one-sided accusations unworthy of a response. Additionally, a video posted to Yulhee’s YouTube channel "Yulhee’s House" on January 13 was revealed to be unrelated to the controversy, as it had been scheduled for release in advance.
A representative of Yulhee’s legal team stated, “Yulhee’s primary focus is gaining custody of her children. For their sake, she has decided to resolve this matter in court rather than through public statements.”
It has also been reported that Yulhee is considering legal action against Choi Minhwan for violating family litigation law. She has filed a petition with the Seoul Family Court seeking custody modification, financial compensation, and division of assets. Under Article 10 of the Family Litigation Act, it is prohibited to disclose identifying information about parties involved in family court cases—including names, ages, and personal details—via publications or broadcasts.
Choi Minhwan and Yulhee married in 2018 and have three children—one son and twin daughters. In December 2023, they announced their divorce, with Choi Minhwan being awarded custody of the children. The public dispute between the former couple dates back to Yulhee's previous claims, supported by a released recording, in which she alleged that Choi frequented nightlife establishments during their marriage. Although Choi faced accusations of solicitation and sexual misconduct, the police ultimately dismissed the charges due to a lack of evidence.
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