Trot singer Sukhyang has been ordered to pay 30 million won in damages after losing part of a defamation lawsuit. Both parties have decided not to appeal, making the ruling final.
According to Star News, the Seongnam branch of the Suwon District Court ruled on September 17 in favor of the plaintiff, A, in a lawsuit against Sukhyang regarding claims of infidelity.
Last December, A revealed on JTBC's 'Incident Report' that her husband was having an affair with a well-known trot singer. The show aired CCTV footage showing the two kissing in an elevator, leading netizens to speculate that the singer was Sukhyang.
Sukhyang's team argued that A's marriage was already in ruins, and she believed it was acceptable to start a relationship with A's husband, claiming she was also a victim. However, the court found that Sukhyang had engaged in an affair with A's husband starting in January 2025, and there was no evidence to support A's claim that her marriage was already broken. Therefore, the court held Sukhyang liable for emotional damages.
The court ordered Sukhyang to pay A 30 million won in damages along with interest.
Despite losing the lawsuit, A has continued to assert that she was deceived by Sukhyang. On October 2, A released a recording of a conversation with Sukhyang on her YouTube channel 'Respect Lee Jin-ho.'
The recording, made on October 19, 2025, features Sukhyang expressing her remorse, saying, "As a woman, I want to apologize first. I mentioned your husband's past and asked you to forgive me just this once, thinking of it as saving a friend since we are the same age."
Sukhyang further stated, "I was also struggling due to my previous boyfriend, and I acted thoughtlessly. That’s all there is to it. Please, just once, have a heart like Buddha and forgive me."
Meanwhile, Sukhyang has temporarily stepped back from her activities due to the controversy but returned to the stage with a performance at Arte Seoul Muse Hall in Mokdong, Seoul, in September. She expressed her intention to focus solely on her music, stating, "I want to forget everything and return to my original intentions, as a way to repay my fans who have supported and loved me until the end."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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