‘Their son cheated — so why are his parents getting blamed?’ Affair scandal sparks backlash in Korea
Hong Seo-beom, right, and Jo Gap-kyung / Captured from their social media
An extramarital affair involving a non-celebrity man has unexpectedly brought about a public backlas against his famous parents — triggering a heated online debate over how far parental responsibility should go.
According to a March 25 report by NewDaily, a Korean court ruled that the man must pay 30 million won ($22,000) in damages to his ex-wife and provide monthly child support of 800,000 won until their child reaches adulthood.
The ex-wife also reportedly won a separate lawsuit against the woman involved in the affair, receiving 20 million won in compensation. In an interview with a YouTube channel, she said the marriage collapsed due to her husband’s infidelity and claimed that child support payments had not been properly made.
The case has gained unusual attention because the man’s parents are well-known singers in South Korea — Hong Seo-beom and Jo Gap-kyung — who previously appeared on family reality shows featuring their children. As details of the affair surfaced, criticism began to spill over to his parents — despite their lack of direct involvement.
The backlash has since evolved into a broader cultural debate, with some arguing that parents should bear some responsibility for how their children turn out, especially when they have publicly showcased their family life.
Others have strongly pushed back, saying adult children are solely responsible for their own actions. Comments circulating online include, "They’re grown adults — what can the parents possibly do?" and "This has nothing to do with the parents."
Amid the controversy, Hong addressed the situation through a YouTube channel, saying, "After the first trial, my son paid 20 million won in damages first, and when he attempted to pay child support, the other party filed an appeal." He added that payments are currently on hold pending the outcome of the appeal.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for April 23 at the Daejeon Family Court.
This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.