Youn Yuh-jung's ex-husband calls her Oscar win 'awesome vengeance to all cheating husbands'

In this April 20 file photo, Cho Young-nam speaks during a TV talk show on KBS. The well-known singer is under fire after making “inappropriate comments” about the Oscar win of his ex-wife, Youn Yuh-jung. Courtesy of KBS

By Ko Dong-hwan

Yuh-Jung Youn, winner of the award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for "Minari," poses in the press room at the Oscars in Los Angeles, California, April 25. Reuters-Yonhap

Cho Young-nam, a singer who had divorced now Oscar-winning actress Youn Yuh-jung over his cheating, caught flak after publicly linking her latest achievement to their former marriage.

After Youn won the Best Supporting Actress Award at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles for her role in “Minari” on April 25, Cho, 75, who was a popular musician in Korea in the 1970-80s, had an interview with a Korean media outlet, where he was asked to give his thoughts about the woman he divorced 34 years ago.

He said that it was, “Great news and something I want to congratulate her for very much,” and added: “Isn't her Oscar winning like the best, most awesome vengeance to all cheating husbands? Of course, I am the one who cheated on her so I have to be more discreet from now on.” Many of her fans have found these remarks offensive and upsetting.

Writer Lee Seok-won said on his online blog: “I don't understand the reporter who sought out Cho, who got divorced from Youn 34 years ago, to ask about her Oscar achievement. But I also don't understand Cho who had the gall to respond like that.”

Calling Cho “full of himself,” the writer added that vengeance is only meaningful when the avenger still thinks even a tiny bit about the person who deserves vengeance. “Why do people have to suffer such nonsensical egocentrism after something wonderful happened?”

Some others made comments such as, she may be “not interested in listening to his cheating story again,” or, “Youn doesn't look like the kind of person who would put energy into delivering payback to her ex-husband.”

Cho and Youn married in 1974 and had two children. They went to the United States, where he earned a bachelor's degree in theology. After they came back to Korea, Cho cheated on her repeatedly, which resulted in the end of their marriage in 1987.