close
close

FT Island’s Choi Min-hwan is under investigation for his ex-wife’s allegations

FT Island’s Choi Min-hwan is under investigation for his ex-wife’s allegations

SEOUL – Boy band FT Island’s drummer Choi Min-hwan is under police investigation following allegations made by his ex-wife Yulhee.

The Gangnam Police Station confirmed on October 25 that it had launched an internal investigation into Choi on charges related to the Punishment of Commercial Sex Arrangements Act. The case started after a complaint was filed through the national petition platform.

The allegations first came to light when Yulhee, a former member of K-pop girl group Laboum, posted a 37-minute video on her YouTube channel on October 24.

In the video, Yulhee, whose full name is Kim Yul-hee, claimed that Choi frequently visited prostitution businesses. She released conversations between him and a person who appeared to be a brothel staff member, which were recorded from July to August 2022.

Following Yulhee’s video, a citizen filed a complaint through e-People — a platform under South Korea’s Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission — reporting both Choi and an alleged middleman for violations to the police of the Law regarding the punishment of commercial sexual arrangements. Acts.

Choi, 31, and Yulhee, 26, married in 2018 and have three children – a six-year-old son and four-year-old twin daughters. The couple divorced in December 2023, with Choi having custody of the children.

He recently appeared on the South Korean parenting show The Return Of Superman (2013–present) where he talked about the challenges of being a single father.

Yulhee shared in the YouTube video that she received hurtful comments accusing her of neglecting her children since the divorce. She said: “Sometimes I wondered why I had to put up with such criticism, feeling both unfairly treated and hurt.”

In response to the controversy, Choi’s agency FNC Entertainment released a statement on October 25 expressing regret for disappointing the audience. The company confirmed that Choi will cease all media activities, including his television appearances with his children.

Meanwhile, during the FT Island concert in Kaohsiung, Taiwan on October 26, Choi reportedly performed backstage and did not appear on stage. The concert was part of the band’s Pulse In Asia tour celebrating their 17th anniversary. KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK