TV
Woo Ji-won Opens Up About Divorce and Life After Separation
On the TV Chosun show 'Now Alone' aired on the 8th, Woo Ji-won, who has been divorced for six years, joined the cast.
Woo Ji-won recently disclosed that he ended his 17-year marriage with a mutual divorce in 2019. The news of his divorce became public five years after the fact. He explained, "I didn't announce it because it wasn't good news. I felt suppressed, thinking I would appear as a failure after a divorce. Now, I can't hide anymore, and I have dreams in life, so I decided to reveal it and work hard."
The divorce became news, and Woo Ji-won learned about it through a link sent by a friend. He admitted, "I wasn't prepared for it, and it surprised me. I received many calls and thought, 'Is this something I have to go through?'"
Reflecting on his past, Woo Ji-won said, "I dated my ex-wife for about two years and decided to marry her at 30, believing she was someone I could spend my life with." They have two daughters together. He recalled, "Our first daughter, Seo-yoon, was born a year after our marriage, and it was an indescribable joy."
However, the once-happy family began to experience frequent arguments, leading to a rift. Woo Ji-won explained, "I was busy with my sports career and couldn't be home much. I spent less than half the year commuting. I couldn't watch my children grow daily. After retiring, I spent more time at home, which led to more arguments, and that was the beginning."
In 2014, Woo Ji-won was arrested for assault after throwing a fan during a drunken argument with his wife, but charges were dropped after she submitted a non-punishment request. He clarified, "After work, we had a simple drink, and during a heated exchange, I threw a fan on the floor in anger. It was the first time I did something like that, and it was the most regrettable moment of my life. It hurt both of us, but it wasn't the decisive reason for our divorce."
The couple tried to maintain their family for their children, but the arguments persisted. Feeling guilty towards their children, they agreed to separate for two years starting in 2017.
Woo Ji-won shared, "We both tried hard, but ultimately, we thought it was right to part ways. I felt sorry for the children, especially when they saw us fighting. I didn't want to separate, but sometimes things just don't work out." He became emotional as he spoke.
Regarding custody, he revealed, "I have custody of our first daughter, Seo-yoon, while my ex-wife has custody of our second daughter, Na-yoon. We decided on split custody."
He explained, "Seo-yoon had to go abroad for studies after high school, and Na-yoon needed to attend school in Seoul with her mother. Being alone for the first time felt empty, and I missed the children a lot. It was hard coming home to an empty house."
On the decision for split custody, he said, "It might have been selfish, but I thought having one child each would make it less lonely. We both needed to be involved in their upbringing, so it seemed like a practical solution."
Currently, Woo Ji-won lives with his mother, and his eldest daughter has been studying in the U.S. for four years. He noted, "I had custody of Seo-yoon when she was in high school, but it naturally dissolved as she became an adult."
Woo Ji-won concluded, "I didn't disclose the divorce to protect my young children from getting hurt. Now, as a father to my two daughters, my goal is to live an impressive second act of life."
Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr
