Hong Seobum and Jo Gapkyung: The Shocking Truth Behind Their Son’s Infidelity Scandal

Jo Gap-gyeong, Hong Seo-beom / Photo=MBC Every1 \”They’re Grown, But Won’t Leave\”

[Sports Today reporter Kim Tae-hyung] Singer Hong Seo-beom and his wife Jo Gap-gyeong issued a statement addressing allegations that their son, identified as A, had an affair. A woman believed to be the couple’s former daughter‑in‑law, referred to as Ms. B, has since shared her reaction.

On the 29th, a user believed to be Ms. B reposted the couple’s statement from the previous day to an Instagram thread and criticized it, writing that the couple “are pretending to apologize to the public now that this has blown up.”

The poster called the apology “fake” and “forced,” adding, “They’re shameless as always. They’ve been broadcasting this for three years,” and urged readers to “keep up the pressure so this doesn’t fade away.”

Some commenters asked, “Did Hong Seo-beom and Jo Gap-gyeong tell their son to commit infidelity? Let the parties sort it out in court.” The poster fired back, “Would you say the same if it happened to you or your child? 2024 was a year of hell and death for me. If you don’t know the background, don’t comment.”

Earlier, on the 23rd, the couple’s former daughter‑in‑law appeared on the YouTube channel Garosewo Research Institute and made allegations about A. She said her husband had been unfaithful during their marriage and claimed that, while she was pregnant, A had an inappropriate relationship with a temporary teacher at the same school.

A and Ms. B lived together for two years and married in February 2024. They had a child, but Ms. B later filed for divorce. The trial court found A to be at fault and ordered him to pay 30,000,000 KRW (about $22,500) in consolation damages and 800,000 KRW (about $600) per month in child support. In a separate damages suit against the other woman, Ms. B was awarded 20,000,000 KRW (about $15,000) in consolation damages.

Despite those rulings, Ms. B says she has not received the full payments. She says she tried contacting her former in‑laws but got no response, received no reply after sending photos of her newborn daughter, and was told, “Adults should handle their own affairs.”

On the 28th, Hong and Jo issued a public statement: “We bow our heads and deeply apologize to the public for the disappointment and discomfort caused by recent reports about our son’s divorce proceedings.”

The couple said they returned to Korea, reviewed the court documents and the divorce process, and found significant differences between what they had been told and the facts. They said they had respected their adult son’s privacy and autonomy and therefore did not intervene in the divorce. But, they added, “As parents, we failed to scrutinize our child’s misconduct closely enough. We sincerely regret not setting a better example as public figures.”

They went on to say that although the appeal is ongoing, they will “work through our son’s legal counsel to ensure he promptly fulfills his obligations under the first‑instance ruling, including child support and consolation payments.” They emphasized they “fully respect the other party’s decisions regarding the child’s birth and care” and vowed to support and monitor their son so he fulfills his responsibilities as a father.

[Sports Today reporter Kim Tae-hyung ent@stoo.com]
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