Ji Yeon Soo candidly reveals how much her ex-husband Eli pays for child support

29 Jun 2026, 22:00 by K-Soul · allkpop

Ji Yeon Soo has opened up about the reality of receiving child support from her ex-husband, former U-KISS member Eli, shedding light on the financial challenges many divorced parents face. Her comments also sparked renewed discussion about South Korea's child support system and its limitations.

On June 29, Ji Yeon Soo addressed divorce and parenting issues in a video uploaded to her YouTube channel, Yeonsurobda by Ji Yeon Soo. The episode, titled "Ji Yeon Soo's Thoughts on Child Support from Her Ex-Husband!", featured consultations about divorce and child-rearing, including stories shared by single mothers.

During the discussion, Ji Yeon Soo emphasized that child support is ultimately "the child's right," but acknowledged that persuading an ex-spouse to fulfill that responsibility is often difficult. She noted that some former spouses mistakenly view child support as a personal financial dispute rather than an obligation owed to their child, adding that society's perception of child support needs to change.

Ji Yeon Soo also criticized the current child support calculation system, saying the official guidelines are outdated and no longer reflect today's cost of living. In South Korea, child support amounts are generally determined using court-issued child support calculation tables, which consider factors such as the parents' combined income, the child's age, and living arrangements. However, the guidelines serve only as a reference rather than a legally binding formula.

Speaking about her own situation, Ji Yeon Soo revealed that she receives approximately 850,000 KRW (about 550 USD) per month in child support from Eli. She said the amount falls short of covering the actual cost of raising a child and noted that child support payments are generally expected to continue until a child graduates from high school.

She also offered practical advice based on her own experience.

"Rather than relying on child support, it's more realistic to prepare to support yourself," she said, explaining that she worked part-time jobs after her divorce to make up for the financial shortfall.

Her remarks highlighted the gap many single parents experience between the legal child support system and the actual cost of raising children.

Ji Yeon Soo married Eli, who is 11 years younger than her, in 2014. The couple welcomed a son in 2016 before divorcing in 2020. Ji was awarded both legal and physical custody of their child. Although the former couple later reunited on a television program, they have since continued with their separate lives. Eli recently drew attention after announcing that he had remarried.

How South Korea's Child Support System Works

In South Korea, child support is not determined arbitrarily. Courts generally rely on official child support guidelines that take into account the parents' combined income, the child's age, the number of children, and living arrangements to estimate an appropriate payment amount. However, these guidelines are advisory rather than legally binding.

Child support is typically established either through mutual agreement during divorce proceedings or by a family court ruling if the parents cannot reach an agreement. The parents' actual income is a key factor, and courts may estimate income when financial information is unavailable.

In practice, child support is generally paid until a child reaches adulthood, although many cases use high school graduation as the standard endpoint. Parents may negotiate additional support if the child continues in higher education.

If a parent fails to make child support payments, South Korean law allows various enforcement measures. A family court may first issue a compliance order. Continued nonpayment can result in fines or detention for up to 30 days. Authorities may also garnish wages, freeze bank accounts, seize property, and, in qualifying cases, request suspension of a driver's license or overseas travel restrictions.

The Child Support Agency, established in 2015, provides counseling, debt collection assistance, and legal support for custodial parents seeking unpaid child support.

Although child support is legally recognized as a child's fundamental right rather than a private financial matter between parents, disputes over unpaid support remain common due to hidden income, refusal to pay, or changing financial circumstances. As a result, calls for stronger enforcement measures and updates to the child support system continue to grow.

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