With FT Island’s Choi Min Hwan swept up in a prostitution scandal, a lawyer specializing in sex crimes analyzed his leaked audio recordings on a radion show on YTN.
On October 30th, attorney Lee Go Eun appeared on the radio show to discuss Choi Min Hwan’s situation, analyzing the released audio clips. “In many ways, it’s quite shocking,” Lee said, adding, “Hiring hostesses at such venues is legal, but it crosses into prostitution if there is an exchange of money for sexual acts, which often occurs at nearby hotels.”
Lee noted, “Choi mentioning that he’d transfer 2 million KRW (approx. USD 1,470) raises questions about the level of entertainment provided. Still, the audio alone is insufficient to prove that prostitution occurred—concrete evidence is necessary.”
The lawyer emphasized Choi’s apparent comfort with the culture of nightlife, stating, “Listening to the recordings, it’s clear he seems very familiar with this kind of nightlife culture. If it’s proven that he paid for sexual services multiple times, even as a first-time offender, it would be difficult for him to avoid prosecution. He would likely face a penalty more severe than a suspended indictment, such as a fine.”
Regarding Choi’s alleged inappropriate conduct with his ex-wife, Yulhee, including putting money down her top or touching her inappropriately, Lee explained, “Legally, sexual assault or harassment can occur between married partners. However, given the nature of marriage, proving such crimes can be challenging as the boundaries are broader.”
On October 24th, Yulhee posted a video on her YouTube channel, revealing that one reason for their divorce was Choi’s visits to hostess bars during their marriage. She also released audio from July and August 2022, where Choi can be heard saying, “They say there aren’t any girls here tonight,” and “Send me the account number so I can pay the 2.3 million KRW (approx. USD 1,690) from last time.” He also mentioned, “Can we book a hotel nearby? Even a motel is fine.”
In light of the scandal, Choi Min Hwan has halted all media activities and has withdrawn from the KBS show The Return of Superman. FT Island will continue as a duo with Lee Hong Ki and Lee Jae Jin for the time being.
Meanwhile, the police have launched a preliminary investigation into Choi’s alleged visits to prostitution venues and are also looking into the accusations of sexual assault.
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