Park Han-byul Explains Why She Didn’t Get a Divorce After Her Husband’s Burning Sun Scandal

Actress Park Han-byul returned to television for the first time in six years, opening up about her life after the 2019 scandal involving her husband and the emotional struggles she has faced since.

On the April 1 episode of TV Chosun’s reality show Dad and I (아빠하고 나하고), Park Han-byul appeared alongside her father, a former football coach. The two offered viewers a glimpse into their quiet life in Jeju Island, away from the spotlight, and reflected on the difficult years they endured together.

Park’s father, who said he once couldn’t even speak about the pain for fear of hurting his daughter, shared, “It feels like I’ve finally come out of a long tunnel.” He described battling depression and social withdrawal, saying, “I couldn’t sleep for days, didn’t want to eat… I would wander the hill behind our house at 2 or 3 in the morning like I’d gone mad.”

Park Han-byul recalled those moments vividly: “Dad was struggling so much. He would call at night, drunk and sighing heavily. Even when he didn’t speak, I could feel his pain in his breath.”

She then opened up about her own trauma, describing how after her husband’s scandal in 2019, she lost all her endorsement deals and acting offers. Strangers would show up at the home she shared with her child, and each day felt like hell.

Despite pressure from those around her to divorce, she tearfully revealed:

“My child did nothing wrong. I couldn’t take away his family. As a mother, I made the choice I thought was best.”

She continued, “I made that decision because I value family above all. Even if children don’t understand now, I believe they will someday.”

Fellow cast member Lee Seung-yeon resonated with her story and added, “The thoughts you have while raising a child… they’re all very similar. Living well and showing strength—that’s what it means to be a mother.”

Park Han-byul confessed she has very few memories from two to three years after the incident, saying, “It was so painful that I think my brain just erased it.” Reflecting on it again during the broadcast brought her to tears:

"Just thinking about it again after so long—I couldn’t hold back my emotions."

The Burning Sun Scandal: A National Shock

The Burning Sun scandal, named after a now-defunct nightclub in Seoul, implicated several high-profile celebrities in serious allegations including illegal filming, prostitution mediation, drug use, and police corruption. One of the central figures was Seungri, former member of BIGBANG, one of K-pop’s most iconic groups under YG Entertainment.

Yoo In-seok, Park Han-byul’s husband and a former CEO of Yuri Holdings, was deeply involved in the scandal as a business partner of Seungri. He was accused of arranging prostitution services for foreign investors and eventually received a prison sentence for his role in the case.

Though Park Han-byul was never involved in or charged with any wrongdoing, the fallout affected her both personally and professionally.

“Every day felt like hell,” she shared on the show.

“People told me to get a divorce. But my child did nothing wrong. I couldn’t take away his family. As a mother, I made the choice I believed was best.”

From Glamorous Star to Silent Survivor

Park Han-byul first rose to fame in the early 2000s as a model and actress, gaining attention for her resemblance to fellow actress Jun Ji-hyun. She made her acting debut in the horror film Wishing Stairs (2003), part of the popular Whispering Corridors series, and went on to star in dramas like Oh! My Lady (with Choi Si-won of Super Junior), Bolder By the Day, and I Have a Lover.

She also became a style icon and CF queen, frequently appearing in beauty ads thanks to her flawless visuals and polished image.

All of that came to a halt in 2019. As Yoo In-seok’s legal troubles surfaced, Park’s acting offers, endorsements, and public life vanished. Strangers began appearing at her home, and she withdrew entirely from the public eye, moving to Jeju Island to raise her child in peace.

“I Lost My Memory from the Pain”

During the broadcast, Park Han-byul revealed that the trauma from those years caused her to lose large portions of her memory.

“For two to three years, I barely remember anything. It was so painful, I think my brain just erased it.”

Her father, a former soccer coach who also appeared on the show, spoke of the emotional toll he experienced watching his daughter suffer. He confessed to falling into deep depression and isolation, often wandering the hills behind their home at night in emotional distress.

“Even when he didn’t say anything, I could feel his pain through his breathing,” Park said, recalling his late-night phone calls filled with heavy sighs.

Choosing Family Over Image

What moved viewers most was Park’s refusal to let the scandal destroy her family.

“I made that choice not for anyone else, but for my son. Even if he doesn’t understand now, I believe that one day, he will.”

Her story resonated with fellow cast member Lee Seung-yeon, who empathized deeply as a mother: “The thoughts you have while raising a child… they’re all very similar. Living well and staying strong—that’s the role of a mother.”

A New Chapter in Jeju

Now living a quiet life in Jeju, Park Han-byul says she finds healing in nature and in time spent with her family. She may have stepped away from the glamorous life of red carpets and drama sets, but her return to television marks the beginning of a different kind of spotlight—one of honesty, strength, and reflection.

Next week’s episode of Dad and I will show more of Park’s life in Jeju, including a tense cooking challenge between her and her father, and a rare emotional dinner with another father-daughter duo.

What’s Next

Next week’s episode will feature more emotional moments from Jeju Island, including a long-awaited meal between father and daughter Lee Kyung-rae and a cooking showdown between Park Han-byul and her father that leads to unexpected tension.

Dad and I airs every Tuesday at 10 PM on TV Chosun.