While Kim Hyun Joong is serving his two-year mandatory military enlistment in Paju, near the North Korean border, the lawsuit filed by his ex-girlfriend continues.
The latest development concerned the ultrasound photos that the singer-actor's ex-girlfriend, identified only as Ms. Choi, brought to court on June 22. According to the Korean media outlet Star Today, Kim Hyun Joong's legal team has expressed some doubt about the timing of the pregnancy and has questioned the photos.
Ms. Choi is currently pregnant and also alleges that she lost a pregnancy during a 2014 fight with the singer.
"It seems to be true that Ms. Choi is currently pregnant," said Kim's legal representative. "There is also a medical certificate of pregnancy. However, it is unclear as to the exact time frame when she became pregnant."
In 2014, Choi accused Kim Hyun Joong of four incidents of physical assault. After he apologized and offered her a financial settlement of approximately $500,000, she dropped the charges. However, one of the charges proceeded to trial and he was ordered to pay an additional fine.
After the trial, the couple briefly reconciled, vacationed together and then broke up. In January 2015, Choi announced that she was pregnant with Kim's child. Kim stated that he would take responsibility for the child. But the legal team questions aspects of the pregnancy.
"There is a problem with the ultrasound photo," said Kim's legal representative. "When she visited the hospital this past March, she went at around 10:40 a.m., and her consultation ended at around 11 a.m. At the time of her visit, the hospital did not give her a sonogram photo, but gave it to her about a week later. The time recorded on the sonogram photo is marked 11:20 a.m. That time is after Ms. Choi had already left the hospital. Furthermore, her name is not written on the photo."
The legal team wants to verify that the child is indeed Kim Hyun Joong's.
"We have suspicions about her alleged pregnancy. Kim Hyun Joong's statement about taking responsibility for the child, if confirmed to be his biological child, remains unchanged."
Choi is also asking for a financial settlement because of a pregnancy that she alleged she lost in 2014, but according to Kim's legal team, Choi has yet to verify that pregnancy with medical evidence. Kim's legal team has discussed the possibility of counter-suing Choi for defamation of character.
The case is due to return to court on July 22.
