Okay, this one sounds like it slipped straight out of a drama script — but it’s real life. A man in his 40s says his wife’s growing obsession with a male idol (who debuted on a TV survival program two years ago) allegedly led to serious family fallout: neglect of their 10-year-old daughter, secret loans taken out in his name, and debt piling up to over 80 million won.
According to the husband, his wife’s fan activities escalated from a stress-relief hobby into full-blown spending: she bought birthday billboard ads in Gangnam Station and reportedly purchased about 500 copies of the same album to try to win a fan-signing event. He found a bank notice indicating a loan under his name — allegedly taken out after she used his seal without telling him.
“My wife neglected taking our daughter to and from school because she was following the idol’s schedule… I found a notice for a negative bank account loan under my name… she had secretly taken my seal and taken out a loan.” — The husband
Unable to continue the marriage, the husband says he will pursue divorce and seek custody of their daughter. Attorney Shin Jin Hee of Shinsegae Law Firm commented that the wife’s behavior appears to go beyond a hobby: debts taken without the husband’s knowledge may be treated as personal (and excluded from property division), and document forgery or damages could lead to criminal complaints. Shin also pointed out that if a caregiver fails to properly care for a child, that could affect custody decisions even if full-time parents are often favored.
Quick context for fans:
- Buying multiple albums and using lots of votes or serial codes to enter fan-sign events or boost rankings is a well-known part of K-pop fandom practice.
- Paid birthday ads in high-traffic places like Gangnam Station are a common way fans publicly celebrate an idol’s birthday.
- In South Korea, personal seals (dojang) are legally significant; using someone’s seal without permission can constitute forgery.
- Many idols who come from survival shows rely heavily on fan rankings and voting, which can intensify fan-led spending campaigns.
It’s a sobering story about how intense fandom can spill over into real-life consequences — for family, finances, and legal trouble.
Source: Koreaboo