Hong Seo-beom and Jo Gap-gyeong, courtesy of tvN

Singer Hong Seo-beom directly refuted, via an interview on a YouTube channel, claims by his former daughter-in-law concerning allegations that his son committed adultery and failed to pay child support.

Previously, Ms. A, the ex-wife of the son of Hong Seo-beom, alleged in a phone interview released on the 23rd by the YouTube channel ‘Garo Sero Research Institute’ (hereafter Gaseyeon) that “Mr. B (the son of Hong Seo-beom) committed adultery while she was pregnant.” In the related trial, it was reported that the court recognized Mr. B at fault and ruled that he pay 30 million KRW in consolation damages and child support.

On the 24th, in a call with the YouTube channel ‘Garo Sero Research Institute’ (hereafter Gaseyeon), Hong stated, “After listening to one-sided claims, it seems a conclusion was pre-set in order to demonize my wife and me, and I express deep regret that they edited together an old variety show we appeared on long ago and an illegal recording of a call with the mother of the other party, made even before the baby was born, and aired it,” and added, “I, too, watched the marriage and divorce litigation process of the couple, and with a truly heavy heart I scolded and reprimanded my son many times; however, because this was the love and divorce of adults, an area where I should not interfere, I quietly watched, hoping it would be resolved amicably.”

Hong said, “After the first-instance judgment, my son first paid 20 million of the 30 million KRW in consolation damages and was about to pay child support when the other side filed an appeal. In response, the attorney for my son told him to hold off on paying child support until the trial is over, so we are waiting until the ruling comes out,” and added, “Double standards is the word I hate the most. I have not lived in such a servile and brazen way.”

He went on, “The case is not over, and we do not even know how it will end. People say notice was given in the divorce suit, but while our son was accepting that and paying money, the other side filed an appeal. Then it is not finished yet, is it. So I intended to speak and announce a position only after everything was concluded,” and argued, “How the children lived and such matters are not things I can judge and check one by one; I do not have the leeway. What is being discussed now is the story of those two people.”

He also said, “Watching the broadcast, they said photos were sent to us, but we never received any photos, Ms. A never tried to call me, and I never blocked her,” and continued, “After the first-trial ruling, our son handed over 20 million KRW. Before that, it seems there was some debt relationship between the kids. He said he lent 30 million KRW when Ms. A started her business. So he was about to settle it by offsetting the 30 million loan, but I said, ‘Do not do that; let us pay cleanly what should be paid.’ Then, since another lawsuit came from that side, the lawyer told us to hold child support temporarily, because we do not know how it will end. Yet on the broadcast, they made it sound like not even 30 million was paid and completely painted the person as a coward.”

Previously, in a call with Gaseyeon, former daughter-in-law Ms. A said, “I began dating Mr. B (the son of Hong Seo-beom) in August 2021, became pregnant a few months later but miscarried. After we married in February 2024, I became pregnant,” and claimed, “At that time, suspicious behaviors by Mr. B indicating an affair came to light.” She alleged that Mr. B, who was working as a physical education teacher, had an improper relationship with Ms. C, a fixed-term female teacher at the same school.

Ms. A said, “When I checked the dashboard camera, it captured him meeting Ms. C at a movie theater near our home,” and, “When I showed Mr. B the dashboard camera, he said it was out of curiosity. Later, when I called Ms. C, she first said she did not know, then later said, ‘Mr. B is preparing for a divorce suit.’”

Ms. A then filed for divorce in October 2024, and in September 2025 the court of first instance recognized that the de facto marital relationship had broken down due to the infidelity of Mr. B. According to the ruling, Mr. B was to pay Ms. A 30 million KRW in consolation damages and pay 800,000 KRW per month in child support until the child reached adulthood.

Regarding this, Ms. A said, “The child is currently 18 months old. The consolation damages and child support are not being properly paid,” and added, “I sent photos of the child and reached out to my former parents-in-law, but I cannot reach them. Mr. Hong Seo-beom reportedly told my mother, ‘Since this is an adult matter, adults should handle it themselves.’”

Regarding the 20 million KRW, Ms. A explained, “Because I received it through the law office of Ms. C, the paramour, I did not know it came from that side, I did not know it would be given, and I do not even know who gave it. I only know that Ms. C gave it.”

Ms. A, who said she appealed only against Mr. B and not against Ms. C, stated regarding the alleged debt between her and Mr. B, “When I was setting up the office, I was a bit short on funds. Mr. B took out a loan and I said I would pay the interest, but if he was going to run it together with me, would that not become joint property? So while giving that 30 million KRW, I was actually putting 700,000 KRW each time into the Youth Hope Savings of Mr. B. But now he tells me to repay 30 million KRW even though there is no IOU.”