Eli: "850,000 won? I used to send 10 million won per month to Ji Yeon-soo"

Eli, a former member of the group U-KISS, has directly spoken out regarding the controversy over "850,000 won monthly child support" that has surfaced following his divorce from his ex-wife, Ji Yeon-soo. Having watched the criticism poured upon him, Eli finally shared his grievances through a long post, claiming, "At first, I sent 6,000 to 8,000 dollars every month," and pleaded not to be judged simply by the number "850,000 won."

In the early hours of the 5th, Eli posted a lengthy statement in English on his SNS. He stated, "I have seen numerous comments calling me a 'trash human' or saying I am stingy with child support," and added, "I did not want to mention this issue publicly, but I want to explain how the amount of 850,000 won was determined." He went on to launch a full-scale rebuttal, explaining the reason why he had not responded publicly until now.

What he emphasized was that the way child support was viewed at the time of the divorce was fundamentally different. Eli claimed, "I did not want to put a price tag on my son's welfare," asserting that instead of sending a fixed amount every month, he supported his son by sending money whenever something was needed. He explained that he sent money whenever there were expenses related to his son, such as school supplies or dining out, and specifically noted that during the initial 3 to 4 months, he sent approximately 6,000 to 8,000 dollars per month, which is about 8 million to 10 million won.

However, he said the situation changed when he saw himself being mentioned on broadcasts as a "father who does not provide child support." Eli, having seen reports through past broadcasts that he does not pay child support, argued, "Strictly speaking, the money I sent may not have been officially designated as 'child support,' but from my perspective, it was money sent to help with my son's living expenses."

In particular, what made things even harder for Eli was the public criticism. He confessed that he was deeply hurt as terms like "monster" were used against him, and he saw people he had worked with in the past joining in the criticism. He also revealed that he was working for minimum wage during the pandemic and that a significant portion of the money sent to his son came from his limited savings. His claim is that he sent money for his son even in a situation where he was not financially well-off.

Then why is the currently known child support amount 850,000 won? Eli explained that the past circumstances he publicly disclosed are ultimately connected to the process of how the current child support amount was determined. He stated firmly, "I understand that there may be people who have formed prejudices against me after hearing only the amount without knowing the background," and added, "I will not apologize for the circumstances that led to that decision." However, he added that he still continues to give pocket money when he meets his son or during holidays.

Previously, Ji Yeon-soo revealed on a broadcast that the child support she receives from Eli is 850,000 won per month, stating, "The minimum child support is 640,000 won, and this is the amount given to the youngest child." As stories emerged that she was even working part-time at a gomtang (beef bone soup) restaurant to make a living, public criticism toward Eli intensified at the time. However, with Eli now stepping forward to rebut, two entirely different claims regarding the same situation have clashed.

Eli concluded by emphasizing, "My son is much more important than winning an argument on the internet," and "I hope you remember that every story has two sides." He ended his post by saying, "If it is God's will, the truth will eventually be revealed." As the conflict between the two, who were once a married couple, resurfaces, the difference in positions between the two sides hidden behind the number "850,000 won" is expected to spark further debate.

Ji Yeon-soo and Eli were an 11-year age-gap couple who registered their marriage in 2014 and had a son, Min-su, but their marriage ended in 2020. Since the divorce, Ji Yeon-soo has been raising the son, and Eli has recently announced news of his remarriage.