[Exclusive]Kim Dong-sung of 'Bad Fathers' to return to court in November... Calls for severe punishment persist

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The lawsuit over former short track speed skating national team member and broadcaster Kim Dong-sung's failure to pay child support is set to resume in November.

The 6-1 Criminal Appeals Division of the Suwon District Court will resume the appellate hearing on Kim Dong-sung's charges of violating the Act on Securing and Supporting Child Support Payments on November 6.

Previously, the court had decided to cancel the appellate verdict and reopen the proceedings. In this regard, Kim Dong-sung's ex-wife, Ms. A, and others have submitted a petition calling for severe punishment against Kim Dong-sung, maintaining a firm stance.

The Suwon District Prosecutors' Office indicted Kim Dong-sung without detention on these charges in October 2025. It is reported that Kim Dong-sung has failed to pay child support since 2019 to the present for his two children being raised by Ms. A, resulting in unpaid amounts exceeding 100 million won. Ms. A filed a lawsuit seeking an order for child support payment against Kim Dong-sung starting in 2020. In 2022, despite receiving a court decision ordering 30 days of detention due to Kim Dong-sung's failure to pay child support, he failed to pay 80.1 million won even after a year had passed, leading to his indictment.

Subsequently, the Prosecutors' Office sought a four-month prison sentence for Kim Dong-sung, and the first-instance court, the Single Judge Criminal Division 14 of the Suwon District Court, sentenced Kim Dong-sung to six months in prison in December 2025. However, the court stated, "Rather than immediately detaining the defendant, it appears more appropriate to protect the minor children by practically enforcing the unpaid child support within a certain period," and did not order his detention in court.

The court noted, "Although the defendant was ordered to pay 3 million won per month to his two minor children upon divorcing his spouse in 2018, he paid only part of it. Following his own application, the child support amount was reduced to 1.6 million won. After a detention order was issued at the request of his ex-spouse, he paid a portion of the unpaid child support, but has not paid any child support for approximately three years and ten months since then."

It further stated, "The total unpaid amount appears to be quite substantial up until the time of this verdict. Considering the defendant's age, career, health, and the reduced child support amount, there does not appear to be a justifiable reason for failing to pay child support. The defendant is seen as prioritizing maintaining his own standard of living over paying child support to his children, and since he has only mentioned vague payment plans so far, it is questionable whether he has the realistic will to fulfill them."

The court added, "Considering that the ex-spouse is petitioning for severe punishment, a prison sentence commensurate with the guilt is necessary. While we are not detaining him in court, if he fails to fulfill his payment obligation through the appellate hearing, he may have to serve time in prison."

However, Kim Dong-sung appealed against the first-instance verdict.

In the subsequent final hearing, Kim Dong-sung's lawyer stated in the closing argument, "The defendant sincerely regrets his inability to pay child support. He is preparing to repay through daily labor before the sentencing date, so we ask for leniency." Kim Dong-sung also said in his final statement, "I did not intentionally fail to pay child support; I was unable to work, causing a large backlog of unpaid child support. Even if it takes time, I will strive to take responsibility and pay the overdue child support through daily labor."

The Prosecutors' Office requested the court to dismiss Kim Dong-sung's appeal.

Meanwhile, Kim Dong-sung was a star athlete who served as a short track speed skating national team member from 1995 to 2005. He won a gold medal in the 1st,000m and a silver medal in the 5th,000m relay at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. Kim Dong-sung recently shared news that he had obtained a short track speed skating instructor qualification.

Kim Dong-sung divorced his ex-wife, Ms. Oh, by mutual agreement in 2018, 14 years after their marriage in 2004. Subsequently, Kim Dong-sung appeared on TV CHOSUN's "We Got Divorced" in 2021 with In Min-jung, whom he met after the divorce, and later announced his marriage registration in May 2021.

Kim Dong-sung had his personal information disclosed on the Bad Fathers website in 2020, and in December 2022, his name was also listed on the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family's list of individuals who failed to fulfill child support debt obligations.

In response, Kim Dong-sung stated, "I have never avoided my responsibility for raising my children. At the time of our initial divorce, I agreed to pay 3 million won per month in child support at the other party's request, and even after the divorce, I shared various costs such as car rental fees and living expenses in addition to child support." He emphasized, "However, significant debt arose during this process, and as my financial situation deteriorated rapidly, the child support was adjusted to 1.6 million won. Nevertheless, I have continuously strived to pay it."

He continued, "Every time a broadcast appearance was confirmed or coaching work began, media reports and interviews with my ex-spouse followed, leading to repeated cancellations of already decided appearances or interruptions of ongoing professional activities. Ultimately, the livelihood foundation maintained through these collapsed, placing me in a situation where paying child support became practically difficult." He added, "Since I lacked specialized skills or job experience, finding a new job was not easy either. In that process, daily labor was what I could choose."

Meanwhile, Kim Dong-sung's wife, In Min-jung, stated, "We are planning to carefully prepare for a group purchase opening in the future." She added, "I want to start cautiously again with the mindset of fulfilling my responsibilities by steadily doing what I can, one step at a time."

She further stated, "I am also working hard on construction site jobs. The net profit generated from the upcoming group purchase opening will be added to the repayment of child support. Until the day Kim Dong-sung fulfills his responsibility, I will do my best by his side."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original