Called a father figure... "My wife had an affair with a public institution chairman" exposed

JTBC 'Sageonbanjang' Reveals Tip-off Story
Tipster "Divorced After 2 Years of Marriage Due to Wife's Infidelity"

A man who divorced his wife after two years of marriage due to her affair revealed that his wife's lover was the chairman of a public institution under the Seoul Metropolitan Government, who is 27 years older than his wife.

On the 23rd, JTBC's 'Case Manager' introduced the story of a 30-year-old man, Mr. A, who sent in the report. Mr. A married his wife, who is in her 30s and whom he met through a blind date, two years ago, but recently divorced after about two years. The reason for the divorce was his wife's affair, and her lover was Mr. B, a man in his 60s who is the chairman of a public institution under the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The chairman is appointed directly by the Mayor of Seoul. Mr. A's wife and Mr. B were classmates in graduate school, and the age difference between them was a staggering 27 years.

Chairman B of a public institution under the Seoul Metropolitan Government [Image source=JTBC 'Sageonbanjang' broadcast screen capture]

Before marriage, Mr. A was introduced to Mr. B by his wife. His wife, who is from a rural area, said about Mr. B, "He helped me a lot while living away from home," and added, "If you have a biological father in your hometown, you can think of the chairman as a father figure in Seoul." Mr. A and his wife even delivered their wedding invitations to the chairman together.

After marriage, the wife joined a close-knit group of Mr. B's associates and frequently attended gatherings. Mr. A could not stop her from attending these meetings because she said Mr. B supported and helped her work. However, from a certain point, the wife started staying out overnight more than once a week. Suspecting an affair, Mr. A checked his wife's phone and found that she called Mr. B not "Dad" but "Oppa" or "Orabeoni" (older brother), frequently asking about his well-being. The two exchanged heart-filled emoticons continuously while confirming meeting places.

The decisive evidence of the affair was a recorded phone call between the two. The recording contained content implying sexual relations. The call was made on a day when the wife stayed out overnight, saying she had to "help the chairman with his move." During the call, the wife said with occasional laughter, "I went urgently because Oppa did XXXX on X. So I went to the obstetrics and gynecology clinic. Oppa, you have to be careful. I was so shocked that I went to the hospital as soon as I woke up."

Shocked by this, Mr. A confronted his wife, who admitted to having sexual relations but claimed it was rape, saying, "I was too drunk to resist." She also said, "The chairman has strong power and many connections, so I am afraid he would take revenge on anyone who harms me," using this as an excuse not to report to the police. Unable to trust his wife any longer, Mr. A eventually agreed to a consensual divorce this year.

Afterward, Mr. A contacted the lover to hold him accountable for the breakdown of the marriage. He hired a lawyer and sent two certified letters to Mr. B but received no response. Due to Mr. B's attitude, Mr. A filed a complaint against the lover. At the same time, Mr. A filed a grievance with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, but they responded, "This is a personal matter," and gave no further reply. The public institution where Mr. B serves as chairman also remained silent.

Mr. A pointed out, "The institution has strong influence over startup companies, and my ex-wife is an executive of one of those startups," adding, "I don't understand how this can be considered a personal matter." Although it has not been confirmed whether any favors or support were actually exchanged, Mr. A explained that he reported the case not as a personal vendetta but because the extramarital relationship between a public institution chairman and an executive of a specific company raises issues of morality and fairness for a high-ranking public official.

A representative of the public institution where Mr. B serves as chairman told 'Case Manager,' "We have not been able to specifically and accurately ascertain the details of the matter," and added, "Mr. B is a non-executive director, and the actual operator of the institution is the CEO. Please understand this point." 'Case Manager' also attempted to contact Mr. B and Mr. A's ex-wife but was unable to reach them.