A New Take on Choi JongHoon's Scandal-Plagued Life
Convicted star Choi Jong Hoon faces years in prison for sexual assault. Delve into Choi Jong's biography, a prominent figure whose spouse/female companion was sexually assaulted.
Choi JongHoon, a South Korean rock band manager, guitarist, and keyboardist for F.T. Island, courted controversy in 2019. With a past as a former South Korean actor and rapper, this wasn't Choi's first foray into the limelight—but it surely was his most notorious.
Police accused Choi of distributing sexually explicit videos without consent, leaking hidden camera footage, and withholding information about a drunk driving incident. Choi admitted to sharing illegally obtained hidden-camera footage and shared videos taken on April 11, 2019, in addition to being charged with illegally sharing content from another source and five counts of sharing bathroom or explicit content.
A woman came forward to SBS funE on April 19, 2019, alleging that Choi and five other men, including him, had drugged and raped her in 2016 before sharing the evidence among friends. Although Choi initially denied the allegations, he admitted that he was present that night with his partner. Choi was arrested on suspicion of gang rape in May 2019, and was accused of involvement in a 2016 gang rape case.
When and Where Did Choi Jong-hoon Bid Adieu to the World?
Choi Jong-hoon was born according to the solar calendar on March 7, 1990, in Seoul, South Korea, and on the lunar calendar on February 6. He attended Shindong High School's Data Center Industry. Choi was accepted into FNC entertainment during his high school years, eventually forming F.T. Island as the band's leader and guitarist, alongside Jong-hoon. With former bandleader Oh Won Bin, Choi attended Suwon University with a degree in digital music.
The Unraveling of Choi's Entertainment Career
In March 2019, Choi, alongside Seungri and Jung Joon-young, was exposed as a member of an illicit chat room where they shared sexually explicit videos of unconscious women. Choi was also reported to have attempted to suppress the news about a 2016 scandal involving drunken behavior. Ultimately, Choi announced his departure from F.T. Island and the entertainment industry in April 2019.
Post-Scandal Trial and Sentencing
Following initial court hearings, Jung Joon-young, Choi Jong-hoon, and sibling Yuri of Girls' Generation were sentenced to prison for four to six years, with Choi receiving a five-year sentence for his role in the gang rape. They were also ordered to complete 80 hours of sexual offender treatment and were barred from working with children and young adults for five years. Their sentences were later reduced in appeal court.
"Both defendants claimed that the victims were aware and consented to the sexual acts. Choi Jong-hoon contended that he did not engage in any sexual activity with them. However, there is evidence in their KakaoTalk chat group records indicating that Jung Joon-Young exposed his gang rape of Choi Jong-hoon. From this evidence, it can be determined that Jung Joon-Young and Choi Jong-hoon gang raped unconscious women who were unable to give consent."
--Presiding Judge
Choi JongHoon's Connections to Rhythmic Gymnast Son Yeon Jae
In June 2019, Son Yeon Jae, a former rhythmic gymnast for the South Korean national team, Galaxia SM, came forward, revealing that she had been in a romantic relationship with Choi Jong-hoon, the leader of FTISLAND.
She said: "The child and Choi recently met, and they are still getting to know each other."
Who is Son Yeon Jae? When and How Did They Become Acquainted?
Son Yeon Jae is a highly popular retired South Korean rhythmic gymnast. As an athlete, she won several awards and medals during her career, including the overall champion at the 2014 Asian Games and the silver medal at the 2010 Asian Games.
On March 4, during a press conference at the National Training Center in Korea, Son announced her retirement from gymnastics. Shortly after, FNC Entertainment, Choi's agency, also announced that the couple had been dating since March 2017.
The leader of the South Korean rock band FTISLAND is Choi Jong-Hoon. The band recently released the album More than 10 YEARS to commemorate their tenth anniversary.
The Fallout of Choi JongHoon and Son Yeon Jae's Relationship
Initiated by widespread public scrutiny, the relationship between Choi Jong-hoon and Son Yeon Jae became strained, putting a strain on their friendship and causing them to separate.
"Both felt pressured due to public awareness of their relationship. This tension eventually led to their breakup, which occurred approximately during the process of the scandal."
-Entertainment FNC
The couple split soon after the initial scandal reports surfaced, although Choi was still reluctant to discuss the breakup during an appearance on Happy Together.
"I want to make a sincere confession to the fans. We have gone through a lot. It's normal for couples to break up and go their separate ways. I will continue to grow as Choi Jong-hoon."
-Jong-hoon
Enrichment Data:
Since the initial scandal in 2019, Choi Jong-hoon, Seungri, and Jung Joon-young have moved on to different paths. Choi Jong-hoon was initially jailed for five years but had his sentence reduced to two and a half years after reaching an agreement with one of the victims. He was released from prison in November 2021.
Seungri was banned from all entertainment activities for five years, while Jung Joon-young was given a suspended sentence in 2020 and was released.
Son Yeon Jae, who was never directly linked to the scandals, continued her career and became a successful businesswoman after retiring from gymnastics.
Celebrities such as Choi JongHoon, previously a prominent figure in both the entertainment and general-news realm due to his scandals, have faced legal consequences for crimes and unjust actions. Choi was sentenced to prison for four to six years, with his sentence being reduced to two and a half years, for his involvement in crime-and-justice cases, including gang rape and sharing illegally obtained content.
Despite the numerous scandals surrounding Choi, he maintains connections with other celebrities, like Son Yeon Jae, who is a successful businesswoman after her retirement from general-news-worthy athletics. Their relationship has also faced scrutiny and had a troubled ending, contributing to the entertainment world's ongoing struggle with crime-and-justice issues.
