"Responsibility Evasion?" Public Outcry Rises... Heo Woong Reverses Statement: "Wedding Preparations Were Made but Canceled"

"Marriage Canceled Due to Family Conflict...Termination by Mutual Agreement"

Professional basketball player Heo Ung (31, KCC) reversed his previous stance after criticism that hesitating to marry his ex-girlfriend, who was pregnant twice, was essentially an evasion of responsibility.

Professional basketball player Heo Ung. [Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 27th, Heo Ung's legal representative, lawyer Kim Dong-hyung, told Kukmin Ilbo, "Heo Ung intended to marry ex-girlfriend Ms. A each time she became pregnant," and clarified, "The part in the first statement where Heo Ung said 'let's think about marriage a little more' was factually incorrect." Heo Ung's side stated that in the initial statement released on the 26th, when Heo Ung said to the pregnant ex-girlfriend Ms. A, "I will take responsibility, but I need to think about marriage," Ms. A began threatening him. However, netizens harshly criticized, saying, "How can you take responsibility without marrying?", "You are making your girlfriend a single mother, so of course people are angry," and "If she got pregnant twice, isn't it natural to have financial demands?"

Lawyer Kim explained that Heo Ung and Ms. A met through an introduction by an acquaintance in December 2018 and developed a romantic relationship. At the time of the first pregnancy, Heo Ung expressed his intention to marry, but Ms. A decided to have an abortion due to fear of social stigma surrounding premarital pregnancy. Around May 2021, when she became pregnant a second time, Heo Ung again expressed his wish to marry. Ms. A agreed to Heo Ung's proposal and began preparing for marriage, but conflicts arose during the process of informing both families. Heo Ung's side claimed that this led to the cancellation of the wedding. Afterwards, Ms. A demanded 300 million won, saying she would have an abortion. The two reconciled with the help of those around them and agreed to proceed with the second abortion. However, conflicts continued, and around December 2021, they ultimately broke up, according to Heo Ung's side.

Previously, Heo Ung filed a police complaint against Ms. A on charges including attempted extortion, threats, violation of the Act on the Punishment of Stalking Crimes, and violation of the Narcotics Control Act. He also requested the police to investigate Ms. B, an acquaintance of Ms. A suspected of conspiring with her. Upon this becoming known, Heo Ung's side released a statement saying, "When Ms. A became pregnant the second time, Heo Ung asked her to take responsibility and give birth, but Ms. A insisted that they must marry before the birth," and "When Heo Ung asked for understanding, saying he needed to think about marriage a little more, Ms. A suddenly demanded 300 million won and threatened to expose Heo Ung's private life to the media if her demands were not met, constituting extortion and threats."

Born in 1993, Heo Ung is the eldest son of Heo Jae (59), known as a 'legendary basketball player,' and was a key figure leading his team, Busan KCC, to the championship in the 2023?2024 professional basketball season finals. His younger brother is Heo Hoon, a starting guard for Suwon KT. The Heo brothers are basketball stars with a large fanbase, ranking first and second respectively in the All-Star fan voting.