Crowned Miss Korea in 1994, Han Sung Joo dazzled the public with both beauty and intellect. She transitioned into a career as a TV host and actress, and in 1999, she married Chae Seung Seok, the youngest son of Aekyung Group’s chairman. However, their marriage lasted just 10 months, and Han’s fairytale life as a chaebol daughter-in-law ended abruptly.
Despite the divorce, she remained a prominent TV personality until 2011, when her world unraveled. Her ex-boyfriend, Taiwanese-American businessman Christopher Hsu, leaked a sex tape online and accused her of being a gold digger and a high-end escort. He claimed she used his money to fund her luxurious lifestyle, and alleged she had sexual relations with over 20 men, some aged over 60, in exchange for career advancement. Hsu also said she orchestrated an assault against him and sued for ₩500 million in damages.
While Han denied the assault allegations, she admitted in court to having spent the night in the same room with seven men the evening Hsu was attacked. This bombshell confession shocked the nation and intensified public outrage. Though she was ultimately acquitted of the assault charges, her admissions and the emerging evidence of sex work shattered her career.
The fallout was brutal. She was fired from broadcasting, shunned by the public, and labeled Korea’s most disgraced beauty queen. At one point, Han reportedly attempted suicide but survived.
Following her fall from grace, Han disappeared from the public eye. She changed her name, moved to a new location, and lived in seclusion for years. Only recently has she reappeared, occasionally updating social media with snapshots of a modest life focused on gardening, biking, golf, and her beloved pet dog.
In 2019, she earned a Ph.D. in Horticultural Therapy from Dankook University’s School of Public Health. She is now said to be dedicating her life to studying garden therapy for dementia patients.
Today, Han Sung Joo lives a quiet, private life far from the spotlight she once commanded rebuilding herself slowly after one of South Korea’s most sensational entertainment scandals.
Sources: K14
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