Recently, FT Island Choi Min-hwan became embroiled in controversy when his ex-wife Yul-hee exposed his alleged visits to sex establishments. On October 24th, through her YouTube channel, Yul-hee revealed that Choi Min-hwan had frequently visited adult entertainment establishments throughout their marriage.
The following day, on October 25th, through the fan community Weverse, Lee Hong-ki commented on the matter, “This was their private matter that has now become public. If mistakes were made, one should acknowledge them and apologize with humility.”
Furthermore, he added, “However, we shouldn’t be too quick to believe everything we hear.”
He continued, “I must push throygh; that’s what we do. All I can do is move forward while taking the hits like stones thrown at me.”
Interestingly, Lee Hong-ki has always shown particular affection for the band, especially for Choi Min-hwan and his children. Around three years ago, in 2021, Yulhee appeared on a program with Lee Hong-ki and praised him, saying, “Before his military discharge, he called my husband (Choi Min-hwan) saying he missed our firstborn and twins and wanted to visit. He even brought gifts for Jae-yul.”
Lee Hong-ki’s devotion to his nephew-like figures extended further when he promised to pay for Choi Min-hwan and Yulhee’s firstborn son’s college tuition. During one occasion, Yulhee mentioned, “I want to reconfirm a promise. Hong-ki oppa promised to pay for our firstborn Jae-yul’s college tuition. I wonder if he hasn’t forgotten about it.” In response, Lee Hong-ki clarified, “I specifically promised to pay for one semester’s tuition.”
At FT ISLAND’s 15th-anniversary fan meeting, Yulhee jokingly asked Lee Hong-ki again about the tuition for Jae-yul, his nephew-like figure. Lee Hong-ki responded playfully by saying he would take responsibility for the tuition but also joked that Jae-yul should not go to college. This segment has recently gained attention due to current events.
Regarding the recent allegations, Choi Min-hwan’s agency FNC Entertainment stated, “While it’s difficult for us to fully grasp the details of their marital issues as they pertain to private matters, Choi Min-hwan feels responsible for disappointing many members of the public and viewers. Therefore, he has decided to suspend all media activities, including the broadcast program where he appears with his children.” The agency added, “We sincerely apologize for causing discomfort and concern to many people.”
Although Choi Min-hwan has decided to step down from KBS 2TV’s “The Return of Superman,” it has been reported that FT Island’s concert scheduled for October 26th in Kaohsiung will proceed as planned.
Source: Nate
