Suspended sentence for non-payment of child support… Kim Dong-sung, appellate ruling on the 27th [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The conclusion of the appeal in the lawsuit over former short track national team member and broadcaster Kim Dong-sung’s failure to pay child support is set to be announced on the 27th.

The 6-1 Criminal Appeals Division of the Suwon District Court concluded the appellate hearing on the 6th regarding Kim Dong-sung’s alleged violation of the Act on Securing and Supporting Child Support Payments, and will deliver its verdict on the 27th.

Previously, the court had canceled the appellate ruling and decided to reopen the proceedings. In this regard, Kim Dong-sung’s ex-wife, Ms. A, and others have submitted a petition 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 for his two children, who are being raised by Ms. A, from 2019 to the present, resulting in unpaid amounts exceeding 1 billion won. Ms. A filed a lawsuit for an order to perform child support payments against Kim Dong-sung starting in 2020. In 2022, despite receiving a 30-day detention order from the court because Kim Dong-sung failed to pay child support, he did not 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 Solo Judge of Criminal Division 14 at the Suwon District Court, sentenced Kim Dong-sung to six months in prison in December 2025. However, the court stated, “It appears more appropriate to protect minor children by enforcing the realistically unpaid child support within a certain period rather than immediately detaining the defendant,” and did not take Kim Dong-sung into custody 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 a portion 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 part of the unpaid child support, but has not paid any child support for approximately three years and ten months since then.”

The court further stated, “As of the time of this ruling, the total amount of unpaid child support appears to be quite substantial. Considering the defendant’s age, career, health, and the reduced child support amount, there does not appear to be a justifiable reason for the non-payment. 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 suspended sentence corresponding to the criminal responsibility is necessary. However, while we are not taking him into custody in court, if he fails to fulfill his payment obligation through the appellate stage, he may have to serve time.”

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

In the subsequent final hearing, Kim Dong-sung’s lawyer stated in the closing argument, “The defendant sincerely regrets his failure 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, which caused a large backlog of unpaid child support. Even if it takes time, I will strive to take on daily labor and responsibly pay the overdue child support.”

The Prosecutors’ Office requested that the court dismiss Kim Dong-sung’s appeal.

Meanwhile, Kim Dong-sung was a star athlete who served as a short track 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 coach 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 child support debtors who failed to fulfill their 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 make these payments.”

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 this collapsed, placing me in a situation where paying child support became realistically 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 proceed step by step with what I can do and fulfill my responsibilities, so I am trying to start again cautiously.”

She further said, “I am also working hard at construction sites. The net profit from the upcoming group purchase will be used to help repay the 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