Eli, rebuts claim of '850,000 won monthly child support'… "I sent 10 million won each to Ji Eun-soo" [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

Eli, a former member of the group U-KISS, rebutted the controversy over child support that arose after his divorce from his ex-wife, Ji Eun-soo.

On the 5th, Eli posted a lengthy message in English on his personal social media, opening with, "I have seen many comments saying I am a trashy human being or stingy about child support. I did not want to bring up this issue publicly, but I would like to explain how the child support amount of 850,000 won was determined."

He stated, "During the divorce proceedings, we discussed how to bear the costs of child support and my son's upbringing," adding, "Personally, I did not want to attach a price tag to my son's welfare and happiness. My position at the time was that rather than setting a fixed amount and paying it regularly, I would send money whenever the child needed something."

He continued, "Every time I heard that school supplies needed to be bought, or that we were eating out, or that there were other expenses related to the child, I sent money. During that period, I claimed to have sent between $6,000 and $8,000 (approximately 8 million to 10 million won) per month over a span of about three to four months."

Eli rebutted Ji Eun-soo's claims by saying, "I saw her appear on the broadcast 'Kang Ho-dong's Bapsim' and publicly state that I was not paying child support. While I understand that strictly speaking, the money I sent was not designated as official 'child support,' from my perspective, it was money sent to supplement my son's living expenses."

He also confessed, "It hurt me even more when I heard someone who had worked with me in the past sympathize with the treatment of me as a monster and the disrespect toward my dignity and masculinity." He added, "I was in a situation where I had to worry about going into debt by sending money. That period was during the COVID-19 pandemic, when I was earning minimum wage, and most of the money I sent came from savings that were not very substantial."

Eli conveyed, "This series of events is one of the backgrounds that led to the determination of the child support amount of 850,000 won. I understand that some people may have formed preconceptions about me upon hearing only that amount without knowing the details. If the disclosure of that amount hurt someone's feelings, I am sorry, but I do not want to apologize for the circumstances that led me to such a decision."

He added, "Even now, whenever I can see Min-su, and during holidays, I continue to give him pocket money. I never wanted to be in a situation where I had to clarify my position publicly, and I hope this will not happen again in the future. This is because my son is far more important than winning an argument on the internet. I simply ask that you remember that every story has two sides."

Previously, Ji Eun-soo mentioned the child support she receives from her ex-husband Eli through broadcasts and YouTube channels, stating, "I receive 850,000 won," revealing that she was working part-time at a gomtang (beef bone soup) restaurant, which evoked sympathy. Subsequently, as criticism toward Eli intensified, Eli eventually took it upon himself to explain the situation directly.

Meanwhile, Eli and Ji Eun-soo married in 2014 and had one son, but divorced in 2020. The son is being raised solely by Ji Eun-soo, and Eli remarried last June.

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*This content was translated by AI.