Yulhee and Choi Minhwan’s Divorce: Inside the Split and Custody Decision

Recently, Yulhee, a former member of the girl group Laboum, made her return to television after her divorce from FT Island member, Choi Minhwan. Their divorce has stirred curiosity and discussion, especially since Yulhee faced criticism after giving up custody of her children. This has led to heightened interest in the details surrounding their split and what may have caused it.

On October 22nd, Yulhee appeared on the TV Chosun variety show “Now Alone,” where she openly discussed her new life as a single woman and her sudden divorce from Choi Minhwan. She also revealed that she is now pursuing a career as an influencer. The episode drew significant attention, as Yulhee shared that the divorce came unexpectedly, adding to the public’s fascination with their separation.

Following the broadcast, the YouTube channel “Entertainment Back President Lee Jin-ho” uploaded a video titled “What Happened to Child Support? Yulhee and Choi Minhwan’s Difficult Divorce Story,” which provided more insights into their situation. According to Lee Jin-ho, the couple’s marriage was complicated from the start. Yulhee’s marriage decision came when Laboum was gaining popularity as a girl group, and her pregnancy added further complexity, leading to a series of challenges. Few could have predicted that they would divorce after five years, especially since they had three children together—an older son born in 2018 and twin daughters born in 2020.

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One of the major sources of conflict between Yulhee and Choi Minhwan was their different lifestyles and views on parenting. According to those close to the couple, while their family life may have seemed happy, there were frequent arguments, mainly about their daily routines and how they wanted to raise their children. Yulhee had previously shared that they spent around 8 million won monthly on their children’s education, which included English kindergarten and ballet classes. The high costs weren’t the main issue, but rather, their conflicting priorities regarding the children’s care.

Yulhee, being more of a night owl, struggled with getting up early to take care of the children, which left much of the daily responsibility to Choi Minhwan. He was often the one dropping off and picking up the children from school, especially when the kids were attending a prestigious kindergarten that required a long commute. When Choi Minhwan was busy with his work, his family would step in to help. These differences in their daily routines were said to be one of the leading causes of their frequent disagreements.

Another significant factor that contributed to their split was the financial strain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a musician, Choi Minhwan relied heavily on live performances as a primary source of income, and the pandemic affected their household’s finances. In response, Yulhee began working harder as an influencer, organizing group purchases and other ventures. Her efforts were successful and helped to improve their financial situation, but this created another issue. As her career as an influencer grew, Yulhee found herself spending more time on external activities, which clashed with Choi Minhwan’s focus on family and parenting. This growing gap between them led to further strain in their marriage.

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A pivotal moment in their relationship reportedly occurred when Yulhee left the family home unexpectedly around the time of an FT Island concert. It was said that she was gone for about four or five days, which greatly distressed Choi Minhwan. Although she returned home, and it seemed like things might improve, their relationship continued to deteriorate, eventually leading to the announcement of their divorce.

During the divorce process, the couple managed to resolve the issue of child custody without much conflict. Yulhee made a quick decision to give up custody of their children, which allowed the agreement to go smoothly. The couple did not set any specific visitation schedule, and Yulhee did not seek any child support from Choi Minhwan. Similarly, there was no discussion of splitting their assets as part of the divorce agreement.

The story of Yulhee and Choi Minhwan’s relationship and eventual divorce has captivated the public due to the complexities of their marriage, the challenges of balancing family life with careers, and the unique circumstances that led to their separation. While their marriage faced many struggles, both appear to be moving forward, with Yulhee now focusing on her new career and personal growth.