Yulhee & Choi Minhwan’s Custody and Property Division Mediation Failed, Lawsuit Inevitable
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Custody and Property Division Settlement Failed
According to the legal community on March 14th, Judge Kang Yoon-hye of the 12th Family Division of the Seoul Family Court held a mediation date for the parental rights and custody change application filed by Yulhee against Choi Minhwan on the 12th. However, the judge decided that the mediation was unsuccessful.
A mediation application is a procedure where a decision can be made through agreement without a formal trial, and since the two have failed in mediation, it seems that they will proceed with the future procedure through a formal trial. The court in charge of their lawsuit and the trial date have not yet been designated.
Argument over True Reasons for Divorce
Meanwhile, previously on on January 13, Choi Minhwan claimed that their divorce was not due to his visits to adult entertainment venues but because of Yulhee‘s alleged lifestyle. He accused her of sleeping 18~20 hours a day, neglecting child-rearing responsibilities, going out at night and frequently leaving home.
To this, Yulhee countered, stating that the claim of her sleeping 20 hours a day, leaving only 4 hours for daily activities, was illogical. She expressed frustration, citing that she faced severe stress due to Choi Minhwan’s excessive drinking and visits to entertainment venues. She clarified that taking her children to her parents’ house during marital conflicts was wrongly described as “running away”.
Furthermore, Yulhee is reportedly considering legal action for violations of family litigation laws. According to Article 10 of the Family Litigation Act, publishing identifiable information or photos of parties involved in family court cases in newspapers, magazines or broadcasts is prohibited.
On the same day, Yulhee shared a photo on her social media account of her attending the play “Red Leaves”. The play, based on Thomas H. Cook’s novel of the same name, revolves around the story of Eric Moore’s son Jimmy Moore, who becomes a suspect in the disappearance of their neighbor Amy.
Situation behind the Divorce
Choi Minhwan and Yulhee married in 2018 and had three children—a son and two daughters—before divorcing in 2023. Custody of the children was awarded to Choi Minhwan.
However, last year, Yulhee accused Choi Minhwan of frequenting entertainment venues and sexually harassing her during their marriage. While Choi Minhwan was investigated for sexual harassment and prostitution, the police dismissed the case due to insufficient evidence.
Last year, Yulhee filed a mediation request against Choi Minhwan, seeking 100 million won in alimony, 1 billion won in property division and 5 million won per month in child support.