Star Couple's Divorce Turns Nasty

By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter

Star couple ― Park Cheol and Ok So-ri ― are seeing their divorce fight take a nasty turn. Park said on Monday that he had filed a criminal suit against Ok for adultery. In Korea, adultery is against the law.

Park's disclosure followed Ok's press conference held Sunday. Breaking her silence since the news of their divorce became public, Ok denied certain rumors around her and divulged the couple's marital problems to the public. .

Ok said that it was untrue that she cheated on Park through having inappropriate relations with an Italian chef working at a five-star hotel in Seoul.

She said that she just learned English and cooking from him. But Ok admitted that she had an affair with a vocalist, identified with Chung, for three months in 2006. She said she she ended the relationship because Chung asked to borrow a large sum of money from her.

Ok also said that she was not happy in her marriage life because she had many financial and other private problems resulting from Park's inability from the beginning of the marriage.

When asked about Ok's remarks on the press conference before Park began his radio show Monday, Park told reporters that "She missed the points (at the press conference). I've already sued her for adultery". "I was angry and sad after seeing her press conference", he said.

Park said that he discovered that she cheated on him long ago and he was suing her over two cases ― Chung and the chef.

Concerning Ok's argument that Park had large debts and she suffered from financial troubles, Park dismissed her argument as saying "it is groundless and she has no evidence".

After the couple's divorce became public, rumors erupted over the reasons for the split. Since then, Ok has been the target of gossip over the matter.

The couple has divorced after 11 years of marriage when Park filed for divorce on Oct. 9. Park and Ok, who were top stars in the 1990's, met and fell in love through the 1994 drama "Yeongung Ilgi" (Hero Diary).

They got married in December 1996, and were one of the most popular couples among Korean celebrities. They have an 8-year old daughter.

Park works on cable TV and radio, hosting the "Park Chul Show" on the StoryOn cable channel. The 38-year old Ok has appeared in numerous films and TV dramas in the '90s including "Four Sisters" and "All About Eve".

Ok also hosted a radio show on SBS Radio FM "11 o'clock, I am Ok So-ri".