Ji Yeon Soo has shared an honest look at life as a single mother, speaking openly about child support from her ex-husband, Eli, and the financial challenges she continues to face while raising their son.
On June 29, Ji Yeon Soo uploaded a video to her YouTube channel discussing divorce, parenting, and child support. The episode included stories from single mothers and conversations about the reality many parents experience after separation.
During the video, Ji Yeon Soo explained that child support should not be viewed as money for an ex-spouse, but as “the child’s right.” She said some parents still misunderstand the purpose of child support and treat it like a personal conflict instead of a responsibility toward their child.
According to AllKPop, she also spoke about her own situation and revealed that she receives around 850,000 KRW, or about 550 USD, each month from Eli for child support. According to Ji, the amount is not enough to fully cover the actual cost of raising a child in today’s economy.
“I receive 850,000 won from my ex-husband, but considering the cost of living, there are insufficient aspects,” she shared calmly.
Ji Yeon Soo Talks Child Support Laws
Ji Yeon Soo added that she eventually realized that depending only on child support was unrealistic.
“Rather than stressing over child support, it was more realistic for me to work quickly,” she said, explaining that she worked several part-time jobs after her divorce to support her son, The Chosun reported.
Her comments quickly drew attention online because they reflected struggles many divorced parents quietly face every day. Ji also discussed South Korea’s child support system, criticizing current guidelines for failing to match modern living expenses.
In South Korea, child support is usually calculated using court-issued reference tables that consider income, the child’s age, and custody arrangements. However, the guidelines are not legally fixed, and courts may adjust amounts depending on each family’s situation.
Under South Korean law, child support is generally expected to continue until a child reaches adulthood or graduates from high school. Parents who fail to pay can face legal action, including fines, wage garnishment, property seizure, or temporary detention.
Ji Yeon Soo also briefly addressed Eli’s recent remarriage announcement. She said she sincerely hopes he lives happily and builds a stable new family. Still, she admitted her biggest concern was protecting their son from emotional pain or unwanted attention at school.
Ji Yeon Soo and Eli married in 2014 and welcomed their son in 2016 before divorcing in 2020. Ji later received both legal and physical custody of their child.