Lawyer Yang Soyoung Releases Video on YouTube Channel
"We Must Think of Children Who Will Be Hurt First"
Yang So-young, a divorce lawyer with 24 years of experience, harshly criticized broadcaster Park Ji-yoon and Choi Dong-seok, who are embroiled in a mudslinging battle through mutual alienation lawsuits during their divorce proceedings.
On the 4th, Lawyer Yang released a video titled "Choi Dong-seok, Park Ji-yoon, Get a Grip! A Divorce Lawyer's Piercing Rebuke" on her YouTube channel 'Yangdamso.' In the video, Yang said, "I have been practicing law for 24 years, and I have never once handled a countersuit where both spouses sued each other for alienation of affection." She continued, "I understand that Park Ji-yoon and Choi Dong-seok have expressed their affectionate feelings for their children on Instagram," adding, "When going through a divorce, it is inevitable that children will be hurt. However, is it right to attack and blame each other, thereby escalating the conflict?" She expressed her regret. She also said, "When this becomes news, the children will obviously see it. Aren't you both public figures?" and explained, "I made this video to ask that you each reflect on this matter with your lawyers."
Lawyer Yang continued discussing the issues in their divorce lawsuit and the alimony. She said, "The key issues are whether there was infidelity after the marriage broke down, and who is responsible for the divorce," adding, "The alimony claims are between 10 million to 15 million won, at most 20 million to 25 million won. Are you two really fighting over this amount?" The upper limit for alimony in divorce lawsuits was 50 million won. Until the recent high-profile divorce case between Choi Tae-won and Noh So-young last year and this year, which resulted in a billion-won alimony ruling, the highest known amount was 50 million won. Lawyer Yang's background is that the maximum is about 25 million won.
Yang advised, "Let's say it was mutual infidelity. Then wouldn't it end if you just exchanged money? It's the same thing, so why are you trying to gain so much?" She added, "I hope you both quickly withdraw and settle this matter. I ask you to do so." Regarding custody, she emphasized, "In principle, custody is determined by who is more suitable to raise the child," and "Even if there was infidelity, it does not affect obtaining custody. So infidelity is not a decisive factor."
24-year veteran divorce specialist lawyer Yang So-young[Image source=YouTube channel 'Yangdamso' capture]
She further explained, "If the divorce lawsuit is underway and the complaint is filed, and the infidelity occurred during that time, in the past it was considered infidelity before the final divorce, but recently, there are increasing precedents that do not see it that way," adding, "If the facts prove the real reason for the breakdown, it is possible to judge that 'it is not infidelity' or 'even if it is infidelity, it cannot be held responsible for the breakdown of the marriage.'"
Meanwhile, the two, who joined KBS as announcers in the same year, married in November 2009 after dating and have one son and one daughter. However, last October, after 14 years of marriage, they announced their separation and have since experienced severe conflicts over custody and alienation lawsuits. Last month, news broke that Park Ji-yoon filed an alienation of affection damages lawsuit against an acquaintance of Choi Dong-seok, and shortly after, Choi Dong-seok also filed alienation damages lawsuits against Park Ji-yoon and her acquaintance.
On the 3rd, Park Ji-yoon stated in an interview with a media outlet, "I have never committed adultery," and said, "Although I have been wronged, I could not respond because of the children. I have never committed adultery or any immoral acts during my marriage. Both my ex-spouse and my acquaintances know that I could not have had an affair with that person."
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