Heartbreaking stories of stars who lost not only money but also their families continue to resurface.
Recently, Super Junior member Shindong revealed painful details about his family situation. On the February 25 episode of the Disney+ variety show 'Battle of Fates,' shaman Seol Hwa, speaking about Shindong, asked, “Who was the grandmother who was a shaman?” and warned, “When this grandmother passes away, Shindong could face some danger. It seems someone may try to control his spiritual energy. He needs to be careful.”
She continued, “Your mother’s fortune has improved, but why does she keep focusing on money? She is constantly worried about how to save the family. Your father’s energy has weakened, and your mother has taken on the role of the head of the household.”
In response, Shindong confessed, “To be honest, I am not in contact with my parents right now. Whenever I gave my mother living expenses, she would ask me to give her a large lump sum instead of monthly support, saying she would use it so I wouldn’t have to worry anymore. But she was scammed and also lost money through bad investments.”
When Seol Hwa suggested, “That’s probably why you seek a second family,” Shindong agreed, saying, “That’s true. There is loneliness. I often said on broadcasts that I wanted to get married, and I even came close to it. I think the idea that marriage would bring happiness stayed in my mind.”
Broadcaster Park Soo Hong also became embroiled in a legal battle with his older brother and sister-in-law over embezzlement allegations. The controversy began on March 29, 2021, with an explosive online comment, prompting Park Soo Hong to speak out publicly. The shocking claim that his brother embezzled approximately 10 billion KRW (approx. 6.9 million USD) in appearance fees, combined with reports of verbal abuse from his father, defamatory KakaoTalk messages from his sister-in-law, and media controversies involving his brother’s lawyer, intensified the fallout.
Park Soo Hong engaged in legal disputes with his family for nearly four years, from 2022 until the Supreme Court ruling. He said, “I felt deep resentment when I saw them freely using my assets simply because it was a family company. Even if you add up their salaries and dividends from real estate worth 4.3 billion KRW acquired between 2014 and 2017, there is still a shortfall of 2 billion KRW.”
He added, “They told me it was ‘financial planning for your future.’ Until the partnership ended, I didn’t own any real estate in my name. Everything was split equally between them. Even if they are family, it should never be acceptable for some to benefit from another person’s sacrifice.”
Prosecutors concluded that from 2011 to last year, the couple misused a total of 6.17 billion KRW while operating an entertainment agency. This included falsified labor costs of 1.9 billion KRW, 1.17 billion KRW in company funds used for real estate purchases, 90 million KRW in unauthorized use of company funds, another 90 million KRW in improper credit card usage, and 2.9 billion KRW withdrawn without authorization from Park Soo Hong’s account.
On February 26, the Supreme Court’s First Division dismissed the appeal filed by Park Soo Hong’s brother and sister-in-law, who were charged with embezzlement under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes. The ruling upheld the lower court’s decision, finalizing a prison sentence of three years and six months for his brother, while his sister-in-law received a suspended sentence.
Singer Jang Yoon Jung is also well known for cutting ties with her family over financial issues. On the 2013 SBS variety program Healing Camp, she revealed, “My mother used the money I earned without permission for business investments, leaving me with debts exceeding 1 billion KRW. My father later collapsed from a stroke, and it even led to divorce proceedings.”
When it became known that her mother and younger brother had used her earnings without authorization, they later appeared on broadcasts and publicly criticized her. Ultimately, Jang Yoon Jung entered legal disputes with her mother over financial matters and declared she had cut ties with her family.
Actress Kim Hye Soo’s story of cutting ties with her family due to debt controversies also surfaced years later, despite her successful 30-year career. In 2019, it was revealed that her mother had borrowed more than 1.3 billion KRW from acquaintances over several years without repaying it.
Kim Hye Soo’s agency stated, “Her mother had caused numerous financial problems for over a decade. Around 2012, Kim Hye Soo struggled with her mother due to debts so massive they could not be handled even with her entire fortune, and she eventually cut ties with her.”
They added, “This appears to be another issue caused independently by her mother, with whom Kim Hye Soo has had no contact for nearly eight years. Kim Hye Soo had no way of knowing about her mother’s actions.”
Actor Shim Hyung Tak also shared his painful experience on the July broadcast of KBS2’s 'The Return of Superman.' He said, “Usually relatives attend weddings, but I was alone. None of my blood relatives came. I was deeply hurt by my family and suffered tremendously.”
In February 2022, Shim Hyung Tak was also caught in a civil lawsuit involving approximately 500 million KRW related to his mother. The plaintiff claimed his mother borrowed money using an account in his name and even signed a joint guarantee confirmation. Shim Hyung Tak previously said on a broadcast, “My mother borrowed money using my name,” adding that he was unaware of the loans. He was acquitted in May the following year.
However, the incident caused significant financial damage, forcing him to sell his Han River-view apartment and endure major losses.
SEE ALSO: Jang Yoon Jung opens up about fear of “bad hands” and harassment beyond the stage
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