Trot singer Sook Haeng, who suspended her activities following allegations of an affair with a married man, is set to stand trial next month as legal proceedings officially begin.
According to reports confirmed by Star News, the Seongnam Branch of the Suwon District Court will hold the first hearing in April for a civil lawsuit filed by the wife of the man allegedly involved with the singer. The plaintiff, identified as A, has filed a claim for damages against Sook Haeng, accusing her of being the third party in her marriage.
The controversy first erupted after A appeared on JTBC’s current affairs program Case Chief (Korean title: “사건반장”) on December 29, 2025. During the broadcast, A claimed that her husband had left home and was cohabiting with Sook Haeng. CCTV footage aired on the program showed a woman, alleged to be the singer, engaging in intimate physical contact with the married man, including hugging and kissing.
A stated during the broadcast, “She told me they were just friends and even warned that if I kept contacting her, she would sue me through her agency. But I later found out they were living together. When I asked her to return my husband, she said, ‘Why are you saying that about someone who isn’t mine?’ and told me not to contact her again.”
In response to the allegations, Sook Haeng tearfully addressed the situation, saying, “I have nothing to say, but I am also a victim. If I were an ordinary person, it wouldn’t matter as much.” She added, “I’ve already lost everything. I can’t lose my livelihood—I have to support my parents.” The singer claimed she began the relationship believing the man’s marriage had already broken down and that he had told her they planned to marry once legal matters were finalized. Upon learning that the divorce had not been legally agreed upon, she said she ended the relationship.
Sook Haeng ultimately announced that she would clarify the facts through legal procedures and issued a public apology for causing concern. She subsequently stepped down from ongoing broadcast appearances.
The lawsuit was initially filed in September 2025, but for more than three months Sook Haeng reportedly did not respond, prompting the court to notify both parties that a ruling could be issued without a hearing. She later appointed legal representation and submitted a power of attorney, resulting in the cancellation of the summary judgment date. Since then, both sides have submitted preparatory briefs and evidence in advance of the first hearing.
The man at the center of the controversy, identified as B, later spoke out via YouTube channel “Behind the Entertainment President Lee Jin Ho,” defending the singer. He claimed that Sook Haeng had repeatedly expressed concern about his marital status and sought confirmation that his relationship was effectively over. B denied cohabiting with her and admitted that she may have believed he was already divorced except for paperwork formalities. “If Sook Haeng suffers financial damages, I will compensate her. I hope all responsibility falls on me,” he said, expressing regret over the situation.
Despite halting most of her activities, Sook Haeng appeared unedited in group shots during the January 20 broadcast of King of Active Singers 3, though individual close-ups were reportedly minimized.
With the first hearing now scheduled for April, the case is expected to draw continued public attention as both sides present their arguments in court.
Sources: 네이트 뉴스
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