'I'm not trash': Eli pushes back against ex-wife's child support claims

Eli, a former member of K-pop group U-KISS, has spoken out about a child support dispute with his ex-wife.

Eli posted a lengthy statement on his SNS on Monday responding to recent remarks by his ex-wife Ji Yeon-su, who said she receives 850,000 won ($625) a month in child support.

Earlier, Ji had said on YouTube and other platforms that she receives 850,000 won while the minimum child support guideline stands at 640,000 won. "Prices keep rising, but the child support calculation table is from years ago — it is nowhere near enough," she said. She also mentioned she was working part-time at a gomtang restaurant to cover living expenses.

In response, Eli said he had seen many comments calling him "trash" or stingy over the child support amount. "When we divorced, we discussed child support, and my position was that instead of sending a fixed amount every month, I would send money whenever my son needed something," he said.

He explained that he sent money whenever his son needed school supplies, wanted to eat out, or had other expenses. Eli said he sent roughly $6,000 to $8,000 a month for three to four months during that period.

"I understand that the money I was sending was not formally designated as child support, but from my perspective I was sending it to help cover my son's living expenses," Eli said. "I was sending as much as I could, to the point where I was worried I might go into debt."

He noted that the payments were made during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he was earning minimum wage. "A significant portion of the money I sent came from the modest savings I had at the time," he said. "I think some people may form a negative impression just from hearing the amount, without knowing this background."

Eli closed by saying he was sorry to anyone who felt disappointed or hurt by the disclosed child support figure. "Even now, whenever I get to see my son, I give him money for whatever he needs," he added.

Meanwhile, Eli and model and broadcaster Ji registered their marriage in 2014 and had a son in 2016. They held a formal wedding ceremony in 2017 but divorced in 2020, six years after their initial marriage registration.