“Both Sides Sue Affair Partners”: The Outcome of the Synchronized Announcers’ Muddy Divorce Mediation

The divorce mediation seems to be mired in complications and likely to drag on.

The former couple in question is Choi Dong-seok (46) and Park Ji-yoon (45), former announcers at South Korea’s public broadcaster KBS, who are suing each other’s alleged affair partners. The two joined KBS as part of the 30th cohort and, after a workplace romance, got married in November 2009, having one son and one daughter together.

“The two filed for divorce mediation at the Jeju District Court last October, marking the end of their 14-year marriage. Initially, the mediation was proceeding smoothly, and it was thought that they would reach an amicable separation,” said a reporter from a South Korean newspaper.

But they never did.

The situation was not limited to just the relationship between the two. First, Park Ji-yoon filed a lawsuit for damages against a woman, referred to as Ms. A, who is said to be her ex-husband’s affair partner, in June of this year. Choi Dong-seok quickly countered. He wrote the following on his social media:

“It is true that my acquaintance (Ms. A) has been sued by Park Ji-yoon, but I have absolutely not engaged in any illegal activities during our marriage. I will respond vigorously to the defamation based on falsehoods. I will reveal the truth in court and make it public clearly.”

Furthermore, Choi Dong-seok took strict measures. In September, he filed a lawsuit seeking damages against a man, referred to as Mr. B, who was said to have had an affair with Park Ji-yoon. He criticized that the infidelity (of Park Ji-yoon) during their marriage was the cause of the breakdown of their marital life.

Park Ji-yoon’s agency released a statement in response to inquiries from Korean media outlets such as “Daily Economy Star Today,” showing a posture of thorough resistance.

“It is difficult to confirm each issue regarding personal matters. However, during the marriage period, and even during divorce mediation, there was no wrongdoing or intimate relationship with anyone other than my spouse.”

However, the spark was not only the affair allegations.