“Kim Ji-yeon’s Marriage Breakdown”: Jung Cheol-won Finally Speaks Out, Expressing Concern Over One-Sided Allegations of Infidelity and Domestic Violence [Star Issue]

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• Legal Representative: “Disagreement Over Scope of Property Division… Will Pay Child Support for Son”

Baseball player Jung Cheol-won directly addressed the controversy surrounding his separation from Kim Ji-yeon, a former contestant on “Love Catcher,” who has been making public disclosures.

Law firm Daeryun, which represents Jung Cheol-won legally, issued an official statement on the 6th, saying, “Since January, while undergoing legal proceedings related to child custody that have continued to the present, Player Jung Cheol-won has strived to fulfill his duties as a professional baseball player while also carrying out his responsibilities as a father and creating a healthy upbringing environment for his child. Currently, there is a difference of opinion between the parties regarding the subject matter and scope of property division, and related negotiations have not been resolved smoothly. It was determined that the opposing party’s legal representative filed a resignation notice on September 21.”

The statement continued, “Jung Cheol-won’s side expresses significant concern over the spread of suspicions regarding domestic violence and infidelity. We are contesting the factual relationships and interpretations of the raised allegations, and we maintain that one must be cautious about accepting unverified content based solely on one party’s claims or partial materials as established facts.”

The legal representative added, “Specific legal review is needed to determine whether future contract bonuses, salaries, and incentives that have not yet occurred or been finalized can be treated identically to joint property formed during the marriage. Even for amounts to be paid in the future, if they constitute deferred payment of rights already accrued or are substantively related to property formed during the marriage, the legal evaluation may differ. Jung Cheol-won granted his ex-wife primary custody and decided to pay child support. He conveyed that he has a minor child who needs protection more than his performance as a player or property division in the divorce, and requested that the repeated spread of legal disputes through media and online platforms not damage the child’s privacy and emotional stability. Going forward, we plan to respond within the scope necessary to respect ongoing legal proceedings and protect the welfare of the minor child and the legitimate rights and interests of the parties involved.”

Previously, on December 24, 2025, Kim Ji-yeon interacted with fans via a Q&A session, drawing attention with answers that seemed to imply her divorce and separation from Jung Cheol-won.

Kim Ji-yeon graduated from the Department of Dance at Hanyang University and became known for appearing on Mnet’s dating reality show “Love Catcher,” which aired in 2018. At the time, she received great love from viewers for her pure appearance and candid charm.

Jung Cheol-won was drafted by the Doosan Bears in the second round, 20th pick of the 2018 KBO Rookie Draft. He won the KBO Rookie of the Year award in 2022, his first year in the first division, and was traded to Lotte after the end of the 2024 season. In his first year with Lotte last year, he recorded a 75-game appearance with 8 wins, 3 losses, and 21 holds, an ERA of 4.24, and 55 strikeouts in 70 innings, serving as a key pillar of the bullpen ahead of closer Kim Won-joong.

Kim Ji-yeon and Jung Cheol-won announced their pregnancy before getting married and welcomed their first son in August 2025. The couple held their wedding ceremony at an undisclosed location in Seoul on December 14, 2025, about four months after the birth, officially becoming a married couple, but faced a crisis of separation just over a month later.

Law firm Haiden, which represents Kim Ji-yeon legally, stated, “Various speculative rumors are circulating regarding this case, and it has been confirmed in many instances that false facts included among them are causing secondary harm. In particular, since Player Jung Cheol-won’s side has also mentioned issues such as custody through their legal representative, we wish to express an official statement on behalf of Ms. Kim Ji-yeon.” The firm added, “Since the marriage, Ms. Kim Ji-yeon has endured constant suffering due to domestic violence and other issues while raising a young child. Additionally, many people have reported circumstances that raise suspicion of infidelity by Player Jung Cheol-won recently.”

The statement continued, “Nevertheless, Ms. Kim Ji-yeon tried her best to resolve the issue amicably for the sake of the child and maintain the marital relationship. However, she feels great frustration after the child’s father left home abandoning the child, stopped paying child support, and mentioned divorce and custody through his legal representative. In proceeding with all future steps, we will prioritize protecting the child and securing custody, and plan to resort to legal proceedings if necessary. This case is purely a personal matter, so we earnestly ask for your help in ensuring that no harm comes to Player Jung Cheol-won’s affiliated team or fellow players.”

Subsequently, on April 30, Kim Ji-yeon released a video titled “Letting You Know My Recent Status (feat. Laminate, Divorce Lawsuit, Broadcast Appearance, Seeding Gang, etc.)” through the YouTube channel “Haru Jiyeon,” discussing her recent status regarding the divorce lawsuit.

Kim Ji-yeon first said, “I think the divorce lawsuit is going well.” She added, “There was a hearing recently, and after it ended, my lawyer sent me a summary via KakaoTalk about what issues arose. I feel very secure, so I’m not particularly worried. There isn’t really anything to worry about anyway.”

She continued, “There are many truly interesting things happening. It’s not about disparaging the other party, but if I share my own story, there was a lot of evidence. So when my lawyer asked me to send some evidence, I got excited and sent a lot. I’d ask, ‘Is this also evidence? Should I give you this?’ My lawyer said it was okay because there was already too much and I didn’t need to provide more evidence.”

Kim Ji-yeon stated, “We haven’t even reached the stage of deciding who is winning or losing, or who did well or poorly. If I say I don’t mind, that would be a lie, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s fine. After all, I am an adult, and no one has threatened me with a knife.” She added, “Because I chose this path, I can handle it, but every time I see the baby, my heart feels a bit heavy.”

Following this, Kim Ji-yeon shared a photo of herself with her son in front of a birthday cake, accompanied by the caption, “My little Cell, who is about to turn two soon.”

She wrote, “Every step I have taken has been a path leading to you. On the day I met you, whom I had waited for so long, I vowed that no matter what happened, I would protect your world.” She continued, “No matter how arduous the paths I walked to protect you may be, even if I had to turn back hundreds of millions of times, I would hold you in my arms just the same.”

Kim Ji-yeon further shared, “There were days when life was so burdensome that I resented you for crying without stopping. From when you were in my womb until your birth, it was terrifying to always be my weakness and a means of threat. There were times I had the foolish delusion that giving up on you was a choice for your sake.” She added, “At that time, I was barely alive, dying inside. Seeing you smile brightly at me as I gave a quiet farewell with my swollen face, I realized how inadequate a mother I was, and so I held you again.”

Kim Ji-yeon concluded, “Although there were parts that did not go according to plan despite doing our best, I hope you will one day understand that all choices were made to protect you. Thank you for coming to me, who am lacking, and for becoming a brighter child than anyone else. My inadequate mother has finally wiped her tears. My baby, who has grown up so much, I only want to show you the right world. It’s okay if it’s slow, and it’s okay if you’re different from others, but please grow up bright and upright just as you are now.”

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original