SBS Star

Choi Jung-won Cleared of False Rumors After 5 Years: "I Lived in a Dark Swamp for the Last 5 Years"

newsservice@sbs.co.kr(SBS Star) — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 09:56:00 +0900

Choi Jung-won, 45, an actor/member of the group UN, directly announced that he has been cleared of false accusations labeling him as a home-wrecker and a stalker.

On the 29th, Choi posted a long message on his social media to announce that both the lawsuit involving claims of an extramarital affair and the stalking case ended with his victory and non-prosecution.

In his post that day, Choi shared his feelings, saying, "For nearly five years, it felt like I was struggling in a dark and muddy swamp. From the lawsuit claiming I was an affair partner to the lawsuit calling me a stalker, it was like a long tunnel where I endured fiercely while hearing subhuman things."

He continued, "However, it is truly all over now. The lawsuit regarding the affair partner ended in my favor, clearly confirming that I did not commit any illicit acts, and the stalking case was fully cleared with a non-prosecution decision, so all these incidents have finally come to an end." He added, "I am now too exhausted and intend to live as a devout and humble person."

Choi also concluded by saying, "When things happen, untrue stories spread indiscriminately like a wildfire, but I think most people don't care about the outcome. That may also be human nature, but whether it is gossip, entertainment, or genuine concern, I want to say it once more: all of my past five years have ended with no charges, and the false civil lawsuit ended in my victory. Thank you."

Previously, in January 2023, Choi became embroiled in suspicions that he had an affair with a married woman and ruined a family. At the time, the woman's husband, A, filed a civil lawsuit against Choi, and Choi announced legal action, stating the reports were based on one-sided claims from the informant's side. In July of the same year, A was sent to the prosecution on charges of instigating defamation and making threats against Choi, but received a non-prosecution disposition in September.

Afterward, legal battles surrounding the affair allegations continued. In January 2025, a court mentioned physical contact between Choi and the woman, reigniting the suspicions, but on September 22 of the same year, the appellate court overturned the first-instance ruling, stating, "It is not an illicit act." On November 26, Choi posted a related recorded file on Instagram to state that the claim of him being an affair partner was false, and on January 16, 2026, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, finally clearing him of the affair suspicions.

Stalking allegations had also been raised. On August 16, 2025, it was belatedly revealed 19 days later that Choi had visited the home of a woman he was dating while carrying a weapon, and the Seoul Central District Court approved emergency and urgent relief measures citing the urgency of the matter. At the time, Choi denied the allegations of weapon threats, explaining it as a magnified mishap stemming from personal conflict. On November 12 of the same year, the Seoul Jungbu Police Station sent Choi to the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office on stalking charges, but as Choi's side recently stated, the case was concluded with a full non-prosecution disposition.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)

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