Choi Minhwan Faces Public Humiliation Over Vasectomy Statement, Deletes Plea of Innocence

On December 18, Choi Minhwan posted a statement on the fan communication platform Weverse, beginning with, “To Primadonna (fandom name), whom I love the most in the world, I want to say something independent of my agency. Being part of a company and a group has made me realize how much I have to protect, sometimes at the expense of expressing my own stance.”

He went on to deny the accusations, “As reported in the media, I did not engage in prostitution. The case was dismissed due to insufficient evidence. How can I prove something I didn’t do? That’s why I felt I had nothing more to say.”

Choi Minhwan continued, “The hotel and motel mentioned in the recordings—those were places I went to because I wanted to be alone. I understand it might be hard to believe, but that’s the truth. I wish there were clear evidence to prove this, but there isn’t. I’m sorry about that. I’ve been at a loss for how to explain or defend myself.“

He concluded, “I just hope people know it isn’t true. I’m not trying to hide or run away. I’m genuinely sorry.“

Notably, Choi Minhwan’s statement did not address the sexual harassment claimed by his ex-wife Yulhee. He also did not deny having visited entertainment establishments.

Questions arose online, with comments such as, “What was the deal with asking for xx and yy?” “Can’t you make your own bookings?” “Don’t you have a reservation app?” “You say you didn’t engage in prostitution, but you’re still avoiding saying you didn’t visit those places.”

Choi Minhwan responded, “I don’t know what xx and yy are, but maybe it’s conditioner and toothbrush? I’m not sure if I should say this, but I underwent a vasectomy. I don’t need condoms, and I always carry a toothbrush for hygiene. Why is that suspicious?”

Choi Minhwan’s bizarre logic—that his vasectomy proves he didn’t engage in prostitution—was not well-received. His suggestion that vasectomy negates the need for contraceptives also drew criticism. More importantly, he failed to clarify his reported close interactions with venue staff and his visits to such establishments, further fueling backlash.

As negative reactions from netizens continued to grow, Choi Minhwan ultimately deleted his post and has since remained silent. Nevertheless, fans are now demanding his withdrawal from F.T. Island.

Previously, Choi Minhwan’s ex-wife, Yulhee, shared an audio recording in which Choi Minhwan was heard saying, “Prepare two toothbrushes and something like conditioner.” Speculation arose that “conditioner” might be a euphemism for contraceptives.

Choi Minhwan married former LABOUM member Yulhee in 2018, and the couple has one son and two daughters. However, the pair shocked fans by announcing their divorce in December last year, 5 years after their wedding. Choi Minhwan was granted custody of their children.

In October, Yulhee posted a video on her personal YouTube channel accusing Choi Minhwan of visiting entertainment establishments during their marriage and sexually harassing her. She claimed, “In front of parents, he touched my private parts and groped my chest.” Recordings that surfaced during the controversy included Choi Minhwan saying, “Are there any hostesses?”, “I’m free now. Is there nowhere to go?” and “There are no hostesses, and the waitlist is very long.” These revelations sparked public outrage.

Regarding this, netizens filed a complaint through the national public service hotline. The Seoul Gangnam Police Station investigated Choi Minhwan for violations of the Anti-Prostitution Act and allegations of forced sexual harassment. The case was ultimately dismissed due to insufficient evidence.

On November 29, after the case was concluded, Choi Minhwan denied the prostitution allegations, expressing his frustration, “In a situation where one-sided claims, false information and countless distorted speculations were spreading as if they were facts, I thought making a statement without a clear conclusion would only worsen things. I wanted to handle the situation properly for the sake of my three children.” He also apologized to fans for the controversy.