Kim Dong-sung, 15 Million Won Child Support Unpaid... Ex-Wife "Contact Information Blocked"

Former short track national team athlete Kim Dong-sung. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] Former short track national team athlete Kim Dong-sung has become the center of controversy for failing to pay child support for his two children.

According to an investigative report by Sherlock on the 1st, Kim Dong-sung has not paid part of the child support to his ex-wife, who has been raising their children alone since their divorce in 2018. Since January 2019, Kim Dong-sung was obligated to pay 1.5 million KRW per child monthly until they reach adulthood.

As a result, Kim Dong-sung’s name was listed on the online site "Badfathers," which publicly reveals the faces and personal information (name, residence, etc.) of 'bad parents' who do not pay child support to the custodial parent after divorce.

Kim Dong-sung’s ex-wife, Ms. Lee, stated in an interview with Sherlock, "Kim Dong-sung has not paid child support since January 2020," and added, "I filed a lawsuit for enforcement of child support payment with the Child Support Enforcement Agency, and currently, the unpaid child support amounts to 15 million KRW."

Ms. Lee criticized, "Even after divorce, parents should strive to provide their children with a standard of living similar to when they were together. He just needs to pay the child support as written in the mediation agreement, but the father (Kim Dong-sung), who does not even participate in child-rearing, does not even do that."

She continued, "If he had shown even the willingness to send 100,000 KRW in child support, I would not have posted his name on ," and added, "He blocked my contact without saying things like 'I will pay child support until when,' or 'It’s difficult now, but I will try.'"

Last year, Kim Dong-sung was embroiled in controversy when a female middle school teacher attempted to hire a hitman to kill his biological mother but failed.

The female teacher, who was dating Kim Dong-sung, had given him expensive luxury watches as gifts, and the motive for the crime was reportedly because she wanted to marry Kim Dong-sung, causing a stir. Regarding this, Kim Dong-sung claimed, "I am not related to the incident and only knew this woman as a fan."