On December 1, South Korean actor Park Shi Hoo was accused of brokering prostitution and destroying a marriage, according to an exclusive interview published by The Fact. A woman, referred to as “A”, claimed that the actor introduced other women to her ex-husband, “B”, leading to the collapse of their marriage. The allegations first surfaced in August when A shared text messages between Park and B on social media, sparking public attention.
Park Shi Hoo’s agency swiftly denied the claims, calling them “biased and false.” B, a former chairman of the Korean Association in Thailand and a businessman in the travel industry, also denied that Park had ever introduced women to him, asserting that he and the actor were merely acquaintances from the same hometown.
B further accused his ex-wife of illegally entering his home and stealing his phone, from which she allegedly obtained private messages with Park Shi Hoo. Despite this, A maintained her stance, claiming the messages revealed undeniable evidence and accusing Park and her ex-husband of using their wealth and influence to silence her.
Legal Battle Underway
Multiple legal actions have emerged from the case. B has filed criminal charges against A for theft, defamation, and violating the Personal Information Protection Act. Park Shi Hoo also filed a defamation complaint against A. However, only B’s theft complaint was accepted by prosecutors; the other charges have been dismissed or remain pending.
On the civil front, B has requested A delete her social media posts, while A is seeking custody of their two children and unpaid alimony. Her lawyer, Shin Dong Woo, claimed B had agreed to pay ₩1 billion ($775,000 USD) during their 2018 divorce but has yet to fulfill that promise. She also claims he owes her an additional ₩210 million ($160,000 USD) in personal loans.
Not About Money, Says A
A emphasized that her motive isn’t financial, but maternal. Her eldest child reportedly shows signs of autism, and she originally agreed to let B have custody due to his stable income. They even lived together post-divorce for nearly three years to raise the children. But after moving out in 2021, A says B denied her visitation rights and she has only seen her children about 10 times in five years.
She claims she took B’s phone in a desperate attempt to reach him after discovering one of their children had an untreated injury. Through the phone, she found evidence of Park Shi Hoo’s alleged involvement, including text messages suggesting he arranged parties with women for B, even providing housing for one woman—something B never did for A during their marriage.
“B wasn’t perfect before, but things worsened after he became close to Park Shi Hoo,” she stated, blaming the actor for 70% of the marriage’s downfall.
Park Shi Hoo’s Controversial History Resurfaces
This is not the first scandal to tarnish Park Shi Hoo’s career. In 2013, he was accused of sexually assaulting a 22-year-old trainee. Though the case was eventually dropped due to insufficient evidence and proven inconsistencies in the accuser’s statements, Park’s reputation never fully recovered. He lost all endorsement deals and was dropped from major productions, eventually relocating to the U.S. for a period.
Despite a low-key comeback in 2020, the actor has struggled to regain his former stardom. Now, this new controversy threatens to further damage his already fragile public image.
A Seeks Accountability
A concluded her interview by stating she is not seeking public apology but accountability. “If I’m punished for theft or defamation, I’ll accept it. But they should also face the consequences of their actions,” she said. Her legal team, led by Shin Dong Woo of Daeon Law Firm, has pledged full support, insisting, “A’s statement that Park Shi Hoo introduced women to her ex-husband is not a lie.”
The exclusive report by The Fact has quickly risen to the top of South Korea’s largest portal Naver, drawing widespread public interest.