Former Sechs Kies member Ko Ji-yong was revealed to have split up after 11 years of marriage. Custody was awarded to his ex-wife Heo Yang-im, and Ko said he will fulfill his responsibilities as a father. He also personally denied rumors about his health and announced active plans.
Ko Ji-yong, who debuted in 1997 as a member of Sechs Kies, retired from the entertainment industry after Sechs Kies disbanded in 2004 and worked as a businessman. Ko, who married family medicine specialist Heo Yang-im in 2013 and welcomed his son Seung-jae the following year, returned to the entertainment industry with his son by appearing on KBS2 "The Return of SUPERMAN".
Recently, Ko Ji-yong, whose noticeably gaunt face had sparked concerns about his health, surprised people on the 29th by revealing that he had divorced Heo Yang-im two years earlier. Through his SNS, Ko calmly announced the breakup, saying, "I divorced my wife two years ago."
Ko Ji-yong did not reveal the divorce for two years because of his son Seung-jae. Ko said, "I wanted to protect Seung-jae so he could fully accept the situation and grow up stably," and added, "The divorce was a decision made to respect each other's paths and to do our duties as adults. Seung-jae understands his mother's and father's new relationship, and he is doing well and living stably now."
OSEN reporting found that custody of Seung-jae went to his mother and Ko Ji-yong's ex-wife, Heo Yang-im. Ko explained the current relationship, saying, "I will continue to do my best as a father, and although we have separated as a married couple, we support each other and are getting along well."
In particular, Ko said, "We did not disclose this with mutual agreement so that our son could fully accept the current situation and grow up stably. It was a choice for the child," and added, "It was a decision made out of respect for each other's paths and there was no special reason."
Because he was revealing the divorce after two years, he strongly warned against any suspicions or rumors that might surface. Ko said, "I am announcing the facts through this post to prevent misunderstandings that may arise in the future. I ask that you refrain from personal questions, and I would appreciate your continued warm attention."
The response to some of the suspicions and other views is expected to go beyond a warning. Mountain Movement Story, which recently signed an exclusive contract with Ko Ji-yong, said, "It is regrettable that Ko had to make such a deeply personal private matter public, but we confirmed again that there was no reason other than choosing to protect the child. Nevertheless, if rumors or speculative stories about the family arise, the company will take legal action to protect a family."
After joining forces with Mountain Movement Story, Ko Ji-yong also clarified the health rumors. He said, "Many people worried about my health, but due to my negligence I briefly had liver function abnormalities; I am currently recovering and improving a lot. I wanted to express my gratitude to everyone who sincerely worried about me and say that I am doing my best to manage my health."
Announcing the divorce after two years and dispelling health rumors, Ko Ji-yong plans to continue a variety of activities, including TikTok live broadcasts and social contribution projects such as support for elderly people living alone.
[OSEN]