[Exclusive]'Conflict with Ex-Wife' Ko Ji-yong: "Last Time I Saw Son Seung-jae Was on Children's Day... Why Would I Refuse to Meet?" [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

"What is there for me to refuse in visitation rights? I always miss my child."

Ko Ji-yong, a former member of the group Sechs Kies who has been in conflict with his ex-wife over visitation rights for their 12-year-old son, stated that he has not been able to meet his son smoothly since their divorce.

According to Ko's agency, Mountain Movement Story, on the 16th, Ko filed a provisional injunction application at Seoul Family Court against his ex-wife, family medicine specialist Heo Yang-im, alleging that she obstructed his exercise of visitation rights and prohibited him from posting photos and videos of his son Seung-jae.

In this matter, Ko told StarNews via telephone that the last time he saw his son was on Children's Day this year. Regarding the reason for filing the lawsuit, Ko emphasized, "The biggest issue is that I cannot see my child."

Ko married Heo Yang-im in 2013 and welcomed their son Seung-jae the following year. The Ko family later gained widespread affection by appearing on KBS 2TV's parenting variety program 'The Return of Superman.' However, Ko and Heo finalized their mutual divorce in April 2024. It is reported that custody rights were awarded to Heo Yang-im.

For minor children of divorced couples, visitation schedules and methods can be determined through agreement between the parties or by court ruling. According to legal experts, it is common for a non-custodial ex-spouse to meet their child twice a month through visitation rights. However, Ko claimed that his ex-wife's side obstructed his visitation. He emphasized that since his ex-wife's side requested communication through a legal representative during the scheduling process, he has not been able to meet his son smoothly.

Ko stated, "If my ex-wife (the party) hires a lawyer and tells me to talk to her lawyer, how am I supposed to set a date? The meeting date with my child should be arranged with the mother, but since the child goes to school and tutoring classes, and I also have work, our schedules won't match. That's the issue." He further added, "I didn't say I would discuss visitation rights through a lawyer. We need to coordinate times to meet my child, yet there is no channel for communication."

According to Ko's side, his ex-wife filed a provisional injunction application and a petition for visitation rights adjudication on the 5th, alleging that Ko failed to pay child support properly and refused visitation rights. In response, Ko took countermeasures, stating that communication regarding visitation with his son became difficult after his ex-wife hired a lawyer.

Regarding his ex-wife's side's demand for communication through a legal representative, he said, "If the channel is gone, isn't that itself a refusal of (visitation)? What is there for me to refuse? I always miss my child."

Ko also spoke about how many times he has met his son since their divorce. Previously, he revealed that he had met his son only about six times in the two and a half years since their divorce. He explained, "Briefly meeting him in front of tutoring classes doesn't count toward visitation rights. If we count strictly, it's less than 10 times." This indicates that there have not been many meetings where they spent time together with formally scheduled arrangements.

He also expressed frustration over the situation of negotiating with his ex-wife's legal representative regarding visitation issues. He said, "We exchanged content-certified letters back and forth. It doesn't make sense to have to discuss meeting my child through a legal representative."

Previously, Ko's side also clarified their position regarding child support. They stated that they regularly pay child support and sent two content-certified letters requesting installment payments for the unpaid amount.

Meanwhile, regarding his recent health condition, Ko shared, "I am receiving treatment and have recovered significantly."

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*This content was translated by AI.