Lotte Giants pitcher Jung Cheol-won (left) and his ex-wife Kim Ji-yeon [personal SNS]
Lotte Giants pitcher Jung Cheol-won (left) and his ex-wife Kim Ji-yeon [personal SNS]

Jung Cheol-won, 27, a pitcher for the Lotte Giants who divorced within a month of marriage, has responded to allegations of domestic violence and infidelity raised by his ex-wife Kim Ji-yeon.

Law firm Daeryeon, which represents Jung, issued an official statement Friday saying Jung "is deeply concerned about the spread of allegations regarding domestic violence and infidelity." The firm said the facts and their interpretation "remain in dispute," and cautioned that "claims made by one party alone, or unverified content based on partial materials, should not be accepted as established fact."

Daeryeon also said Jung had decided to grant primary custody to his ex-wife and to pay child support. It added that Jung had conveyed a request to Kim's side asking that the child's privacy and emotional well-being not be harmed as the legal dispute continues to spread through media and online channels, given that a minor in need of protection is involved.

However, the statement said the two sides remain at odds over the division of assets. "There are differences of opinion regarding the scope and subject of asset division, and related negotiations are not proceeding smoothly," the firm said, adding that legal review is needed on whether future signing bonuses, salaries and incentives not yet accrued or finalized can be treated the same as jointly accumulated marital assets.

Jung and Kim conceived a child before marriage in 2024. Kim is known to the public through her appearance on Mnet's dating reality program "Love Catcher." The couple held a wedding ceremony last December, after the birth of their child, but shocked many when they announced their separation within a month.

Following the split, law firm Haedeun, representing Kim, said she "has endured constant suffering, including domestic violence, while raising a young child after the marriage," and that "many people have come forward with information suggesting Jung recently engaged in infidelity" — remarks that first brought the allegations to public attention.

Haedeun also said Kim had tried to resolve the situation amicably and preserve the marriage for the sake of the child, but that she "feels a great sense of frustration" at finding herself in a situation where the child's father left the home, stopped paying child support, and is now raising the issues of divorce and custody through legal representatives.


paq@heraldcorp.com