Korean trot singer Sook Haeng is facing mounting legal and public scrutiny after being accused of having an affair with a married man—an allegation that has now escalated into a high-profile civil lawsuit. As the controversy deepens, the singer has appointed legal counsel and stated that she, too, is a victim of deception.
According to court records, the Suwon District Court’s Seongnam Branch has canceled its previously scheduled January 15 ruling in the lawsuit filed by Plaintiff A, the wife of the alleged affair partner. The lawsuit seeks 100 million KRW (approximately $75,000 USD) in damages for emotional distress.
The ruling was initially set to proceed without oral arguments, as Sook Haeng had not submitted a response for more than three months after the lawsuit was filed in September 2025. However, after the court notified both sides that it would rule without further proceedings, Sook Haeng appointed a legal representative and submitted a power of attorney on January 7. As a result, the scheduled verdict was canceled, signaling the start of a formal legal counterresponse.
The scandal first erupted on December 29, 2025, when JTBC’s investigative program Crime Chief aired the testimony of A, a woman in her 40s and a mother of two. She claimed her marriage collapsed after her husband became involved with a famous trot singer.
According to A, her husband began frequently going out late at night and abruptly canceled a planned family vacation earlier in the year. In February, he left the family home entirely. While checking his phone, she discovered the singer’s name saved in his contacts along with her birthday. When confronted, her husband insisted the singer was “just a friend.”
Suspicions intensified when the husband was later seen accompanying the singer to her schedules. In March, A contacted the singer directly, but claimed she was warned to stop contacting her or face legal action through the singer’s agency.
The situation escalated further after A’s legal counsel obtained CCTV footage allegedly showing the singer and the married man hugging and kissing inside an apartment complex elevator. The footage fueled public outrage and led to widespread speculation about the singer’s identity.
On December 30, Sook Haeng posted a handwritten apology letter on her personal social media account—her first public response to the allegations. In the letter, she announced her decision to withdraw from an ongoing television program, explaining that she did not want her personal controversy to negatively affect the production team or fellow cast members.
She expressed deep regret for causing concern and inconvenience, stating that she would reflect seriously on the situation and strive to live more responsibly. She also emphasized that the truth would be clarified through proper legal procedures and urged the public and media to refrain from spreading unverified claims, warning that excessive speculation could harm not only herself but also her family.
“She told me she was a victim too,” A said. “She claimed they had already broken up and said she was struggling financially, supporting her parents, and had no money.”
Following the statement, Sook Haeng disabled comments on her social media accounts as criticism intensified.
According to A, the singer contacted her only after receiving a formal legal notice in September. During their conversation, Sook Haeng allegedly stated that she was also a victim, claiming she had been told the man’s divorce was nearly finalized and that marriage was being planned. She reportedly said she was struggling financially, supporting her parents, and feared massive penalty fees if forced to leave her television program.
A also claimed the singer appealed for leniency, citing her mother’s cancer treatment and surgery costs—an appeal A said she could not accept. “She destroyed a family and then asked to be forgiven because of money,” A said, adding that she no longer wanted to see the singer on television.
In contrast, Sook Haeng has denied knowingly engaging in an affair. She stated that the man repeatedly assured her his divorce had already been agreed upon, including property division and alimony. Once she realized that the legal separation was not finalized, she said she immediately ended the relationship and apologized to the man’s wife.
The controversy deepened when the alleged affair partner, referred to as Man B, appeared on YouTuber Lee Jin Ho’s channel. He defended Sook Haeng, stating that he had misled her by claiming his marriage was effectively over. He denied cohabitating with her and said he was willing to take full responsibility, including financial compensation.
“She trusted me,” he said. “I told her everything was essentially finalized.”
Sook Haeng rose to public recognition after placing within the top 10 on a cable channel trot audition program in 2019, marking the end of a long period of obscurity. Since then, she has remained active in the entertainment industry, making the scandal particularly impactful.
As legal proceedings move forward, Sook Haeng maintains that she will allow the courts to determine the truth. With lawyers now formally involved, the case is expected to enter a more aggressive legal phase, while public attention remains firmly fixed on its outcome.
Sources: Nate, Znews
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