Choi Tae-won "Getting along well with children... Meeting and eating together is not a strange thing"

'Divorce Lawsuit' Noh So-young and Three Children
"Getting Along Well and Discussing the Future"
Photo with Son In-geun Gains Attention
"Not a Strange Matter... But It Hurts the Heart"

Choi Tae-won, chairman of SK Group and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, revealed that he often meets and gets along well with his three children from his marriage with No So-young, director of Art Center Nabi, from whom he is currently undergoing a divorce lawsuit.

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won was recently seen with his children for the first time since the appeal trial ruling of his divorce lawsuit with Noh So-young, director of the Art Center Nabi, on the 30th of last month, sparking delayed online attention. Photo by Online Community 'DC Inside'

At a press conference held on the occasion of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Jeju Forum at the Shilla Hotel in Jeju on the 19th, Chairman Choi said, "My children and I get along very well and communicate a lot," adding, "We also discuss many future issues."

A recent photo capturing him with his son In-geun with their arms around each other attracted attention. Regarding this, Chairman Choi said, "Well... I don't quite understand why a meeting between a father and son becomes news," and chuckled. "Seeing it come to this point, I feel a considerable sense of responsibility, but I also wonder what many people were imagining," he said, adding, "This is not a rare occasion; I play tennis and hang out with my son all the time."

In the photo taken by someone and posted on an online community, Chairman Choi is seen smiling broadly, with his arm around In-geun, engaged in conversation. About that moment, Chairman Choi said, "I think it was probably the day before a business trip to Taiwan," adding, "We must have drunk a lot. Of course, I’m happy when I meet and have fun with my son."

He also said, "After seeing that (photo), I was surprised and became conscious about 'Who might be taking pictures?' even when having a meal with my daughter (eldest daughter) and son-in-law next time," adding, "When I went to the U.S., I also ate and talked together at my second daughter’s house. Isn’t that just natural?"

Chairman Choi said, "It’s not strange at all for me to communicate with my children and meet them for meals, but it pains me that such situations are viewed oddly."