Controversy Surrounds Former Soccer Player Hong Seok-jun Amid Divorce and Allegations

The divorce of Hong Seok-jun, the eldest son of singers Hong Seo-beom and Jo Gap-kyung and a former soccer player, is drawing attention as his ex-wife's revelations spread. The focus is now on Hong's attitude during their marriage, which was once filled with love.

In February 2024, Hong Seok-jun promised unwavering love to his ex-wife at their wedding. According to their wedding invitation, Hong and his ex-wife, referred to as A, wrote, "We have found someone we want to spend our lives with. Meeting each other was like a miracle, like a flower blooming in the desert."

They continued, "We will be each other's light, ensuring we never lose our way in the dark. Please watch over us with joy as we promise to always be together." They also expressed gratitude for the congratulations they received, vowing to always stand by each other.

Contrary to these heartfelt promises, Hong Seok-jun is now embroiled in controversy over alleged infidelity during his ex-wife's pregnancy and failure to pay child support. On the 25th, A revealed in an interview with the YouTube channel 'Garo Sero Institute' that "during my pregnancy, my husband had an inappropriate relationship with a temporary teacher at the same school."

The couple conceived a child the month after their wedding. However, A filed for divorce eight months later, and in September 2025, the first trial court recognized Hong's infidelity as the cause of the marriage breakdown.

According to the court ruling, Hong Seok-jun must pay 30 million won in alimony and 800,000 won monthly in child support until the child reaches adulthood. A also stated, "I was awarded 20 million won in damages in a lawsuit against the woman involved."

However, A claims, "To date, neither the alimony nor the child support has been properly paid," adding that she reached out to her in-laws but received no response. She also mentioned, "Even after sending photos of the granddaughter post-birth, there was no contact, and I was told, 'Adults should handle adult matters.'"

In response, Hong Seo-beom conveyed a cautious stance to 'Garo Sero Institute' operator Kim Se-eui, stating, "The lawsuit is not yet concluded." He added, "An appeal is underway following the first trial, so we must wait for the final outcome." Regarding questions about his granddaughter, he said, "I want to see her, but given the ongoing lawsuit, it is not appropriate to act hastily."

Hong Seo-beom also addressed financial issues, explaining, "After the first trial, I helped my son pay part of the alimony," and "The child support is temporarily on hold based on legal advice due to the ongoing appeal."

Regarding financial dealings with A, Hong Seo-beom claimed, "There was a financial transaction under the guise of business funding," while A countered, "It was a loan for joint operation, not personal debt," highlighting the conflicting positions.

The case is currently in the appeals process, and the controversy over responsibility and financial matters is expected to continue depending on the final verdict.

Meanwhile, Hong Seok-jun, born in 1994, married a Pilates instructor two years his junior.

By Da-yeon Jeong, Ten Asia Reporter light@tenasia.co.kr