Singers Jo Gap-gyeong and Hong Seo-beom. [Newsis]
Singers Jo Gap-gyeong and Hong Seo-beom. [Newsis]

Singer Hong Seo-beom, who has been at the center of controversy over his son's alleged infidelity, has been spotted in good spirits.

Broadcaster Kim Gu-ra shared a recent encounter with Hong on his YouTube channel "Geurigura" in a video titled "Neighborhood Public Sentiment Report, Part 3 — Yongin Suji-gu," posted Friday.

In the video, Kim mentioned a real estate segment he had released the previous week and recounted a chance meeting with Hong.

"In the last episode, we covered home prices in Siksa-dong, Ilsan, and it got 200,000 views," Kim said. "I ran into sunbae Hong Seo-beom at a neighborhood community center while working out, and he gave me a thumbs up, saying the Siksa-dong episode was really good."

Kim added that comedian Jo Mun-sik also owns an apartment in Siksa-dong and had reached out to say he enjoyed the video. "He owns a place there — seems like he has it on jeonse — and messaged me to say he liked it," Kim said. "Getting 200,000 views, I think it reflects the hopes of all those residents who love their neighborhood but are frustrated that home prices just are not going up."

The earlier video, posted Friday, featured Kim and real estate expert Kim In-man analyzing apartment market prices in Siksa-dong, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.

Kim In-man noted that some apartments in the area had peaked in 2021 and seen prices fall since, and offered the view that current market prices are relatively undervalued.

Kim Gu-ra, who said he bought an apartment in Siksa-dong in 2011, expressed frustration. "Someone who sold their apartment in Daechi-dong and moved here regrets it, and actor Lee Gye-in also lamented moving after selling his Yeouido apartment," he said. "The residential environment is excellent, but it is hard to accept that prices are still hovering around the pre-sale level."

Meanwhile, Hong has been embroiled in controversy after his son's alleged infidelity came to light. A woman identified only as A, the former common-law wife of Hong's son, identified as B, filed a lawsuit seeking damages, claiming their relationship broke down in September 2024 when B had an affair while she was pregnant.

A trial court ruled last September that B was liable and ordered him to pay 30 million won ($22,400) in consolation money and 800,000 won in monthly child support. A appealed the ruling in October of that year, and the appellate court issued a partial ruling in her favor.

A has since filed a further appeal, and the case is now before the Supreme Court.

As the controversy grew, Hong and his wife Jo Gap-gyeong issued an apology, saying they had refrained from intervening in their son's divorce proceedings out of respect for his privacy and autonomy as an adult, but acknowledged they had fallen short as parents by failing to keep a closer watch over his conduct. "We sincerely reflect on our failure to set a proper example as public figures," they said, adding that they would ensure their son fulfills his legal obligations, including child support and consolation payments, as soon as possible.

Hong is set to perform at a commemorative concert honoring former President Park Chung-hee on Nov. 20 at 7 p.m.


betterj@heraldcorp.com