Singers Hong Seo-beom and Jo Gap-gyeong with their younger son's family. [TV Chosun capture]
Singers Hong Seo-beom and Jo Gap-gyeong with their younger son's family. [TV Chosun capture]

The Supreme Court has upheld a lower court ruling ordering the son of singers Hong Seo-beom and Jo Gap-gyeong to pay his former common-law wife 30 million won ($22,400) in consolation money and 800,000 won in monthly child support.

According to legal sources, the Supreme Court's Special Division 1 on Thursday dismissed without substantive review an appeal filed by A, the former common-law wife, against B, the couple's son, in a damages suit stemming from the breakdown of their common-law marriage. A dismissal without substantive review means the court rejected the appeal on the grounds that the arguments cited did not meet the legal threshold required for a full hearing. The ruling confirmed the second-instance verdict ordering B to pay A 30 million won in consolation money and 800,000 won per month in child support.

A had filed suit seeking 100 million won ($74,700) in damages and 1.1 million won in monthly child support, alleging that B had committed adultery and abandoned the household, causing the breakdown of their common-law marriage. She claimed that B, a teacher, had carried on an inappropriate relationship with a fellow teacher within a month of her becoming pregnant.

The first-instance court ruled in September 2025 that B bore responsibility for the breakdown, ordering him to pay 30 million won in consolation money and 800,000 won per month in child support.

A also won a separate damages suit against C, the other woman, and was awarded 20 million won.

Despite the partial victory, A appealed, arguing that the consolation money and child support amounts were insufficient and that payments had not been properly made even after the first-instance ruling.

The appeals court, however, reached the same conclusion.

After the second-instance verdict, A vented her frustration online. "Is there really no law for victims? Even with the consolation money, I end up owing more because of money I gave under the name of investment, and the child support stays the same. Are the courts helping these perpetrators live well — appearing on health programs, going to school just fine, preparing for their teaching appointments?" she wrote. She also said she would report the affair to the district education office, adding: "That's why there's so much infidelity. If the adultery law still existed, at least they'd be detained and I'd feel some relief. I feel so wronged."

A appealed to the Supreme Court, but the outcome was the same.

Meanwhile, A had previously revealed online that she had informed her parents-in-law, Hong and Jo, of her husband's affair and the child support issue, but alleged they had stood by and done nothing.

Hong and Jo responded through multiple media outlets, offering a deep apology to the public. "We bow our heads in sincere apology for the disappointment and discomfort we have caused," they said. "Out of respect for our adult son's privacy and autonomy, we did not intervene in the divorce process — but in hindsight, we fell far short as parents in failing to look closely at our child's wrongdoing. We sincerely reflect on our failure to set an example as public figures."


paq@heraldcorp.com