On October 5, Jiyeon shocked fans by confirming that she and Hwang Jae-gyun have “gone their separate ways” after 2 years of marriage. The couple filed for divorce mediation in the Seoul Family Court in September and are currently finalizing their divorce. The reason for the separation was cited as differences in personality and outlook on life.
As the divorce attracts media attention, news outlet QQ reported Jiyeon’s statement about her marriage, a year before the divorce,
Notably, at the time, Jiyeon expressed disappointment and sadness over the instability of her marriage. According to her, her marriage to Hwang Jae-gyun caused her career to stagnate and caused her to miss out on many job opportunities. Once a highly sought-after star, Jiyeon suddenly found herself unemployed, resulting in a mental crisis.
“After marriage I was disappointed and felt that life was empty. Due to marriage all the work done up to now has vanished. I feel like everything I have achieved has been overshadowed by marriage and I have started living in my husband’s shadow,” the female idol shared in a past vlog.
Furthermore, Jiyeon also shared that being stuck at home for long periods made her feel helpless, as she felt increasingly disadvantaged compared to Hwang Jae-gyun. The former T-ara member admitted that she doesn’t want to live dependent on her husband.
Before Jiyeon’s revelation, many people thought that she was lucky to marry someone with status, a good financial background, and someone who could fully support her. Hwang Jae-gyun is known to own a fitness center, a golf course and a coffee shop. After the wedding, the couple moved into a 6.7 billion won (about $4.9 million) apartment in Seoul, South Korea.
However, at present, when people remember Jiyeon’s past statements, many netizens speculate that career direction may have been one of the causes of the conflict between her and Hwang Jae-gyun. Even after marriage, Jiyeon still wanted to work, rather than focus solely on building a family. Many wondered whether Jiyeon’s ambitions conflicted with Hwang Jae-gyun’s views on an ideal wife.
Furthermore, according to QQ, another reason for Jiyeon’s decision to firmly pursue divorce was Hwang Jae-gyun’s alleged involvement with a new person during their separation. This behavior indicated that Hwang Jae-gyun had no intention of reconciling with his wife, despite Jiyeon’s many sacrifices in the marriage. Jiyeon was reportedly heartbroken when her husband was photographed partying with another woman in September. By the end of that month, she was seen without her wedding ring in a vlog.
On the other hand, Jiyeon and Hwang Jae-gyun, who is six years older than her, officially married on December 10, 2022, after a grand wedding. The couple moved in together after about a year of dating.
By June 2024, however, the couple was plagued by divorce rumors. Eventually, their separation became official after two years of marriage.
Jiyeon’s lawyer spoke out on the matter, saying that Jiyeon and Hwang Jae-gyun have failed to overcome their differences.
After Jiyeon’s announcement, Hwang Jae-gyun also confirmed that they are in the process of divorcing. The athlete said that even though they are no longer a couple, he and Jiyeon will continue to support each other in the future.
After confirming the divorce, Jiyeon made her first move. On her personal Instagram and YouTube, the idol deleted all photos and videos with her ex-husband, Hwang Jae-gyun.
Source: YouTube, QQ, K14,
