Cho Yong-gi's son ordered to pay child support for Cha Young

By Bahk Eun-ji

Cha Young

Cha Young, 53, a former spokesman for the Democratic Party, has won her paternity suit against a son of Rev. Cho Yong-gi, the founder and pastor emeritus of the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul.

Cho Hee-jun, 49, former CEO of the church-affiliated local daily Kookmin Ilbo, has been ordered to pay child support for his son who he had with the former news anchor-turned-politician. Cha filed a paternity claim in 2013.

On Wednesday, the Seoul Family Court ruled in her favor, ordering Cho to pay 276 million won ($240,000) in retroactive child support and 2 million won ($1,740) each month until the son becomes an adult in August 2022.

“Cho offered financial support for Cha to move to Hawaii and give birth,” the court said in its ruling. The court noted that Cho did not comply with orders to conduct DNA testing for no justifiable reason.

The court said it has confirmed Cho is the biological father because of his financial support and gifts, and his discussions with Cha to recognize his son.

In filing the paternity suit, Cha said she first met Cho when she was a presidential secretary for the late President Kim Dae-jung in 2001 at Cheong Wa Dae. The relationship was severed in 2004.

Cha had a daughter with her ex-husband, who committed suicide after the couple divorced in 2003.