UN's Choi Jung-won Cleared of Adultery Allegations After Two Years

Choi Jung-won, the former singer of the group UN, has successfully shed the stigma of adultery allegations that have followed him for nearly two years. The Seoul High Court recently ruled in an appeal of the divorce lawsuit between Ms. A and her husband, Mr. B, stating that the relationship between Ms. A and Choi Jung-won did not constitute adultery, and that the responsibility for the marital breakdown lay with Mr. B's coercive behavior, overturning the initial ruling.

The allegations against Choi Jung-won and Ms. A first surfaced in 2023. Mr. B, Ms. A's husband, claimed through a YouTube channel that Choi Jung-won and Ms. A had an inappropriate relationship, leading to the breakdown of his marriage. Mr. B alleged that Choi Jung-won and Ms. A were former lovers and had recently been on dates, enjoying wine and cycling together.

In response, Choi Jung-won clarified that Ms. A was merely a 'neighborhood younger sister' he had known since childhood and not a former lover. He admitted to meeting a few times for meals but emphasized that the conversations were mainly about daily life and family matters, denying any improper conduct. Ms. A also asserted her innocence, stating that she had never been in a romantic relationship with Choi Jung-won and that they were merely brother-and-sister acquaintances who reconnected after many years.

However, a ruling from the Seoul Family Court in December of last year ordered Ms. A to pay 30 million won in damages to Mr. B, finding her primarily responsible for the marital breakdown due to adultery with Choi Jung-won. The court at the time cited instances where Ms. A met Choi Jung-won alone at his home and went on dates after deceiving her husband about going out with their son.

The appellate court, however, reversed this initial judgment after a thorough review of the facts. The court concluded that the relationship between Ms. A and Choi Jung-won did not reach the level of infidelity that violates marital fidelity obligations. Instead, it determined that the marital breakdown was more likely caused by Mr. B's aggressive and coercive attitude during the process of resolving conflicts arising from the situation. Ms. A's legal representative stated that she endured immense suffering under the social stigma of being labeled an 'adulteress' after the first trial, which severely impacted her health and ability to work.

With the adultery allegations cleared by this latest ruling, Choi Jung-won has also filed a counterclaim against Mr. B for defamation. Attention is now focused on whether Choi Jung-won, now free from this two-year ordeal, can fully restore his reputation and return to the public eye.

Choi Jung-won rose to fame as a member of the popular duo UN in the late 1990s and early 2000s. UN produced numerous hit songs, including 'To Her Love,' 'Wave,' and 'Miracle,' earning them widespread acclaim. After the group's disbandment, he has continued to engage with the public through solo music and television appearances.