Ji Yeon Soo shared an honest look at life as a single mother, speaking openly about child support from her ex-husband, Eli, and the financial challenges she continues to face while raising her son.
On June 29, Ji Yeon Soo uploaded a video to her YouTube channel discussing divorce, parenting, and child support. The episode included stories from single mothers and conversations about the reality many parents experience after separation.
During the video, Ji Yeon Soo explained that child support should not be seen as money for an ex-spouse, but as “a right of the child.” She said some parents still misunderstand the purpose of child support and treat it as a personal conflict instead of a responsibility to their children.
According to AllKPop, she also opened up about her situation and revealed that she receives around 850,000 KRW, or around $550, every month from Eli in child support. According to Ji, in today’s economy, the amount is not enough to fully cover the actual cost of raising a child.
“I receive 850,000 won from my ex-husband, but considering the cost of living there are insufficient aspects,” she shared calmly.
Ji Yeon Soo talks about child support laws
Ji Yeon Soo added that she eventually realized that depending only on child support was unrealistic.
“Rather than stress about child support, it was more realistic for me to work quickly,” she said, explaining that she worked several part-time jobs after the divorce to support her son, The Chosun reported.
His comments quickly gained attention online because they reflected the difficulties many divorced parents silently face every day. Ji also discussed South Korea’s child support system, criticizing current guidelines for failing to address modern living expenses.
In South Korea, child support is usually calculated using court-issued reference tables that consider income, the child’s age and custody arrangements. However, the guidelines are not set legally and courts can adjust the amounts depending on each family’s situation.
Under South Korean law, child support should generally continue until a child reaches adulthood or graduates from high school. Parents who fail to pay may face legal action, including fines, wage garnishment, property seizure or temporary imprisonment.
Ji Yeon Soo also spoke briefly about Eli’s recent remarriage announcement. She said she sincerely hopes he lives happily and builds a new stable family. However, she admitted that her biggest concern was protecting her son from emotional pain or unwanted attention at school.
Ji Yeon Soo and Eli married in 2014 and welcomed their son in 2016 before divorcing in 2020. Ji later received both legal and physical custody of their son.
