Ko Ji-yong, a former member of first-generation idol group Sechs Kies, revealed belatedly that he divorced his wife two years ago.
Ko said on his social media (SNS) on the 29th, "The divorce was a decision to respect each other's paths and to fulfill our responsibilities as adults."
As for why he disclosed it two years later, Ko wrote that it was "because I wanted to protect my son so he could fully accept the situation and grow up stably," adding, "I will continue to do my best as a father, and although we parted ways as a married couple, we are doing well while supporting each other."
He debuted in the music industry in 1997 and, along with rival group H.O.T., enjoyed popularity in the late 1990s. But after the team abruptly disbanded in 2000, he moved on to a career as a businessman, and he did not take part when the team regrouped and resumed activities around 2016.
Ko married a family medicine specialist in 2013 and welcomed a son the following year. In 2016, he appeared with his family on the parenting-observation reality program KBS 2TV "The Return of SUPERMAN," sharing a warm everyday life and winning public affection.