Why South Korean Celebrities Are Talking About Divorces Years Later

Korean stars like Park Ki-young and Lee Won-seok are unveiling their divorce stories years later, reflecting a shift in societal attitudes toward divorce. As public support grows, celebrities are more openly discussing their experiences, transforming the stigma of divorce into something more relatable and accepted.
In a surprising twist in the world of K-Pop and K-Drama, South Korean celebrities are gradually spilling the beans about their divorces years after the dramatic finale. Singer Park Ki-young, for example, made headlines when she revealed her second divorce years after tying the knot with a tango partner – talk about a delayed bombshell! She first married a lawyer in 2010, then tangoed into a second marriage in 2017, but it turned out they did the cha-cha away from each other in 2022, with the scoop coming years later.
Not to be outdone, Lee Won-seok, the lead vocalist of Daybreak, took his sweet time announcing his 2021 divorce from a non-celebrity. It wasn’t until April 2023 that he revealed his relationship status on his blog, saying, “In 2021, I experienced two major goodbyes and found myself alone again.” Sounds positively Shakespearean, doesn’t it?
Former MBC presenter Son Jung-eun also got candid about her nuptial farewell during an episode of KBS Joy’s Ask Us Anything Fortune Teller. She admitted that personal life upheavals, like her father’s passing and the subsequent separation from her husband, shook her world. “There were big changes in my life,” she shared, adding a sprinkle of drama to her narrative.
As times have changed, the stigma surrounding celebrity divorces is fading faster than an ice cream in summer. Stars are now openly discussing their experiences, thanks to programs like SBS Plus and E Channel’s Because I’m Solo. Plus, MBN’s Love After Divorce has caught the attention of fans with its focus on divorced male celebs. Even actors like Hwang Jung-eum have jumped into the pool of honesty about their past.
Public opinion has also shifted, with many now seeing divorce as more of a plot twist in a soap opera than a stain on a celebrity’s glossy image. After Son’s revelation, the support flooded in, with TV personality Seo Jang-hoon commenting that she received more messages after her disclosure than upon initially becoming an anchor. Who knew truth-telling could be so rewarding?
In summary, South Korean celebrities are taking their sweet time to share their divorce stories, reflecting changing societal views and increasing support for those who have experienced marital splits. The days of hiding behind the curtains are fading, and stars like Park Ki-young, Lee Won-seok, and Son Jung-eun are embracing their experiences. Divorce is becoming less of a scandal and more of an everyday reality, helping to reshape public perceptions in a charmingly candid way.
Original Source: www.scmp.com