The mother of the late Choi Jin-sil has addressed the controversy surrounding the inheritance left by Choi Jin-sil and Jo Sung-min, expressing her grievances.
On the 5th, the YouTube channel 'Entertainment President Lee Jin-ho' released a video titled "Shocking Exclusive! My Grandmother Took My Money. The Full Story of Choi Jin-sil's 30 Billion Won Inheritance."
In the video, Lee Jin-ho shared an interview with Jung Ok-sook, the mother of the late Choi Jin-sil and grandmother of Choi Jun-hee. Lee stated, "Recently, with Choi Jin-sil's daughter Choi Jun-hee announcing her marriage, the issue of Choi Jin-sil's inheritance has resurfaced."
He continued, "This issue has been ongoing for several years. In July 2023, Choi Jun-hee stated, 'It started when my grandmother touched my share when I was a minor. It's not about the money; trust was broken due to embezzlement,' bringing the inheritance issue back into the spotlight."
Grandmother Jung Ok-sook expressed, "I cried a lot thinking of my daughter. It's very difficult to talk about my grandchildren."
Jung revealed, "At the time of her death in 2008, the cash assets left in the safe were about 1.5 billion won," which were quickly depleted due to advertising penalties, legal fees, and income taxes.
Choi Jin-sil's inheritance consisted of two properties: a house in Jamwon-dong and an officetel, each inherited by her son and daughter with a 50% share. The monthly rental income of approximately 15 million won is also distributed to her son Choi Hwan-hee and daughter Choi Jun-hee.
Recalling her late daughter Choi Jin-sil, Jung said, "After losing my daughter, I only wanted to die with her. But seeing my two grandchildren in front of me, I couldn't bring myself to do it. In that state of mind, how could I think of taking money? I endured with the sole thought of ensuring the children completed their education."
With tears in her eyes, Jung lamented, "Every time I hear figures like 20 billion, 50 billion, 70 billion won, it's so unfair. It's money I've never even seen," adding, "Who will know the truth after I'm gone? At the very least, I want to correct the falsehoods."
Meanwhile, the late Choi Jin-sil and Jo Sung-min married in 2000 and divorced in 2004, leaving behind two children, Hwan-hee and Jun-hee. Choi Jin-sil passed away in 2008, her brother Choi Jin-young in 2010, and Jo Sung-min in 2013.
Choi Jin-sil's daughter, Choi Jun-hee, is set to marry a company employee 11 years her senior on May 16 at a hotel in Gangnam, Seoul.
Reporter Na-yeon Jo, Ten Asia nybluebook@tenasia.co.kr