Actress Choi Jung-won's Alleged Affair: Woman 'A' Cleared of Adultery in Appeal

Seoul High Court has ruled that it is difficult to acknowledge 'improper conduct' in the case involving Ms. A, who was embroiled in an affair rumor with actress Choi Jung-won.

On the 22nd, lawyer Noh Jong-eon of Law Firm Jobeze, representing Ms. A, announced through a press release that the Seoul High Court overturned the first instance ruling in the divorce lawsuit appeal between Ms. A and her husband. The appellate court determined that the relationship between the two did not constitute adultery, and placed the responsibility for the breakdown of the marriage on the husband's coercive attitude.

Previously, rumors of an affair involving Choi Jung-won surfaced in 2023. Ms. A's husband, Mr. B, claimed through a YouTube channel that his wife and Choi Jung-won had an inappropriate relationship, leading to the collapse of their marriage. He alleged that Ms. A and Choi Jung-won were former lovers and had recently gone on dates, including drinking wine and cycling together.

Choi Jung-won refuted these claims, stating she was not an ex-lover but a neighborhood acquaintance known since childhood, and that while they had meals a few times to catch up, no inappropriate incidents occurred. Ms. A also stated in an interview that she and Choi Jung-won were never lovers, but maintained a 'sister-brother' relationship since their 20s after reconnecting after many years.

However, in December last year, the Seoul Family Court ruled in the divorce case between Ms. A and Mr. B that Ms. A was primarily responsible for the marital breakdown due to adultery. The court ordered Ms. A to pay 30 million KRW in damages, citing that she spent time alone at Choi Jung-won's home and went on a date with Choi Jung-won after leaving their son alone at an arcade.

Despite the first instance ruling, the Seoul High Court thoroughly examined the facts in the appeal. The court stated in its ruling that it is difficult to acknowledge that Ms. A and Choi Jung-won engaged in behavior that violated marital fidelity to the extent of causing the marriage to collapse. Instead, it was deemed more appropriate to conclude that the marital breakdown occurred during the process of resolving conflicts, with Mr. B consistently displaying a coercive attitude towards Ms. A and others.

Lawyer Noh Jong-eon further elaborated that after the initial ruling, Ms. A endured immense suffering under the social stigma of being labeled an 'adulteress,' which severely impacted her health and made continuing her work difficult. He expressed a strong hope for the restoration of Ms. A's reputation, given that the appellate court's decision has revealed the falsehood of previous reports.

Ms. A has reportedly faced immense psychological distress and a severe decline in her health following the initial court ruling. The social stigma associated with the allegations made it challenging for her to maintain her professional life. She is currently enduring each day for the sake of her child, a situation that evokes significant sympathy from many.