Sook Haeng Ordered to Pay 30 Million Won in Alimony Despite Pleas for Leniency

As trot singer Sook Haeng lost the alimony claim lawsuit filed against her as an adulteress and the ruling was finalized without an appeal, the controversy has resurfaced. Although it was reported that she once pleaded for leniency, saying, "Please just let me off once," the court's decision ultimately concluded by recognizing Sook Haeng's liability for compensation.

According to legal circles on the 6th, the Civil Division 7 of the Seongnam Branch of Suwon District Court ruled on the 17th of last month that Sook Haeng must pay 30 million won in alimony to A, the wife of a married man B. While the amount claimed by A against Sook Haeng was approximately 100 million won, the court ruled in partial favor. Since neither Sook Haeng nor A appealed, the ruling was finalized on the 3rd.

The core element recognized by the court was 'infidelity.' The court judged that Sook Haeng engaged in infidelity, such as dating and living with A's husband starting from January 2025. Accordingly, the court viewed that Sook Haeng is responsible for compensating the mental damage suffered by A. In particular, the argument from Sook Haeng's side that "the marital relationship was already in a state of breakdown at the time" was also not accepted.

Sook Haeng's side presented an argument to the effect that B had explained that a divorce was already in progress, but the court judged that there was insufficient evidence to support this. Ultimately, the explanation that she "met him knowing the marital relationship was already broken" was not enough to avoid legal responsibility.

The controversy first erupted significantly last December through JTBC's "Scandal Supervisor." At that time, A claimed that her husband had an affair with Sook Haeng and had left the house to live together, and the broadcast even released CCTV footage showing the woman identified as Sook Haeng and B hugging and kissing in an elevator. As the impact grew, Sook Haeng took a position of clarifying the facts through legal procedures and also stepped down from MBN's "King of Active Singers 3," in which she was appearing.

Afterward, the controversy intensified as a recording of a phone call, said to have been between Sook Haeng and A, was released via YouTube. In the recording, the woman identified as Sook Haeng was reportedly heard pleading for leniency to A, saying, "Can't you just let me off once?" It was also reported that she said things to the effect of "I am so sorry" and "I met him because I was told the divorce was already finalized."

However, the court's judgment was ultimately cold. Regardless of the circumstances Sook Haeng appealed, the court judged that infidelity had occurred and ordered the payment of 30 million won in alimony. As neither side appealed, the legal battle has now ended. As the allegations that shook the broadcasting industry have finally concluded with the court's decision, the controversy surrounding Sook Haeng has also entered a new phase.