South Korean police launched an investigation into boy band FT Island’s drummer Choi Min-hwan following recent allegations by his ex-wife, former Laboum member Yulhee, that he frequented brothels for prostitution.
The Gangnam Police Station said on Oct. 25, it initiated a preliminary investigation into Choi on charges related to the Act on the Punishment of Arrangement of Commercial Sex Acts. The police decided to investigate the case after a complaint was filed through the national petition platform.
Choi’s agency, FNC Entertainment, announced that the drummer will cease all activities in light of recent allegations. “We are not fully informed of the details of [his] personal life, but Choi Min-hwan feels deeply responsible for the disappointment caused to the public and viewers,” FNC said.
Yulhee detailed these allegations in a 37-minute YouTube video. In the video, she described incidents of Choi’s emotional and financial abuse, including his visits to meet prostitutes. She claimed that about a year before their divorce, Choi would stick cash in her cleavage and touch her body in front of their family members whenever he would get drunk.
“I later found out that this kind of drunken behavior was a habit [from frequenting brothels],” she said. “The pieces started to come together. My mother-in-law and father-in-law were all there, and he would touch sensitive areas and grab my breasts.”
Toward the end of the video, Yulhee also shared audio recordings of Choi from July and August 2022. In the recordings, Choi seems to be talking to another man about prostitution.
The couple married in 2018 and divorced in December last year. Choi has custody of their three children. Choi recently appeared on “The Return of Superman,” a popular parenting show, sharing his life as a single father.
While Choi’s agency has not yet responded to the allegations, FT Island’s lead singer, Lee Hong-gi, has voiced support for Choi.
