[Exclusive]"Meet with a lawyer..." Go Ji-yong, conflict over visitation rights with ex-wife Heo Yang-im surfaces [Comprehensive Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

A dispute over visitation rights between Go Ji-yong of the former group Xingkeyis and his ex-wife, family medicine specialist Heo Yang-im, has escalated into a legal battle. Following their divorce, Go Ji-yong initiated legal action against Heo Yang-im, citing difficulties in maintaining regular contact with their 12-year-old son, Seung-jae.

In a phone interview with StarNews on the 16th, Go Ji-yong stated, "The last time I saw my son was this year's Children's Day." According to his agency, Mountain Movement Store, Go filed an emergency injunction application at Seoul Family Court on that day, requesting that Heo Yang-im be prohibited from obstructing visitation rights and from posting photos or videos of their child.

Go claims he has not been able to see his son for about four months due to insufficient protection of his visitation rights by Heo's side. Regarding the reasons for filing the lawsuit, Go emphasized, "The fact that I cannot see my son is the biggest issue."

Go married Heo Yang-im in 2013 and welcomed their son Seung-jae the following year. The Go family gained widespread affection after appearing on KBS 2TV's parenting variety show "Superman Returns." However, Go and Heo finalized a consensual divorce in April 2024. It is reported that custody was awarded to Heo Yang-im.

For minor children of divorced couples, visitation schedules and methods can be determined through mutual agreement between the parties or by court ruling. According to legal experts, it is generally recognized that a former spouse without custody rights may meet their child approximately twice a month under visitation rights.

However, Go alleges that Heo's side has been obstructing visitation arrangements. He claims that after Heo's side requested communication through a legal representative during scheduling discussions, contact with his son became difficult to maintain.

Go stated, "If my ex-wife (the other party) appoints a lawyer and insists I speak only with them, how am I supposed to set a date? The meeting schedule should be arranged with the mother, but since the child attends school and extracurricular classes, and I also have work commitments, our schedules simply don't align." He added, "I never said 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 Go's side, Heo Yang-im filed an emergency injunction application and a petition for visitation rights adjudication against Go on the 5th, alleging that he failed to pay child support properly and refused visitation. In response, Go took countermeasures, citing increased difficulty in communicating with his son after Heo appointed a legal representative.

Regarding Heo's demand to communicate only through a legal representative, Go remarked, "If the channel is removed, isn't that itself a refusal of visitation? What reason would I have to refuse? I always miss my child," he emphasized.

Go also commented on the number of times he has met his son since the divorce. Previously stating that he had seen his son only about six times in the two and a half years following their separation, Go explained, "Briefly meeting my son in front of his tutoring center doesn't count toward visitation rights. If we count strictly, it wouldn't even reach ten." He noted that there have been few formal meetings where they spent time together with scheduled arrangements.

Go also expressed frustration over the situation of negotiating directly with Heo's legal representative regarding visitation issues. He stated, "We exchanged official letters back and forth," adding, "It doesn't make sense that I must discuss meeting my own son through a legal representative."

The two sides appear to have conflicting claims regarding child support payments. Go's side asserts that he has been making regular child support payments and sent two formal notices requesting installment plans for any unpaid amounts.

In response, Heo Yang-im has continued her YouTube activities without issuing a separate statement. On this day, she shared daily life moments with her son via her YouTube channel "Kkokkeu Deo Heo Yang-im." On the 12th, she also posted on Instagram showing herself celebrating her son's birthday at a hospital.

Meanwhile, Go has taken legal action against Heo, requesting that she refrain from posting photos and videos of their child on social media platforms. In this regard, Go previously stated through his agency, "I could no longer tolerate her attitude of withholding the child from me, ignoring warnings about violating the Child Protection Act, and exploiting our son for hospital promotion."

At that time, Go also addressed issues regarding child support and his health condition. He revealed, "On May 9th after the divorce, I was rushed to the hospital in a critical state (severe dehydration, liver dysfunction, shock, etc.), facing death itself. Even during our marriage, my illness worsened, but we reached amicable agreements. For about two years, I was hospitalized multiple times, fighting alone between life and death. Yet, despite being pressured to pay child support, having my bank accounts and insurance seized through preliminary injunctions, and receiving formal notices insisting on faithful compliance, I received no response."

He further added, "I can no longer tolerate the refusal of communication and the initiation of lawsuits against someone striving to recover their health and return to society as a working individual."

Meanwhile, regarding his recent health condition, Go stated, "I am under management and have recovered significantly."

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*This content was translated by AI.