LABOUM’s Yulhee Addresses Divorce from FTISLAND’s Choi Minhwan for the First Time Amid Custody Issues

Yulhee, formerly of K-pop girl group LABOUM, is confronting the label of “divorcee” head-on in the upcoming MBN reality show Run for Your Life (뛰어야 산다). In a teaser, she shares her heartfelt reflection:

“Divorce is not a failure in life. I’ll overcome it all.”

Run for Your Life is a sports reality series where 16 first-time runners from diverse backgrounds train for a marathon — pushing their physical and emotional limits. It's not just about finishing, but about personal growth.

SEAN (the “Marathon Angel”) and Lee Young-pyo lead the team as director and assistant director.

Bae Sung-jae and Yang Se-hyung serve as the broadcast team covering the journey.

A mix of celebrities, athletes, and professionals come together to take on the challenge, including: former basketball legend Huh Jae, actress Bang Eun-hee, ex-baseball players Yang Joon-hyuk and Choi Joon-seok, comedian Kim Seung-jin, singer Sleepy, lawyer Yang So-young, chef Jung Ho-young, choreographer Bae Yoon-jung, neuroscientist Jang Dong-sun, ex-MBC anchor Son Jung-eun, Physical: 100 creator Jo Jin-hyung, singer Ahn Sung-hoon, former LABOUM member Yulhee, former Golden Child member Lee Jang-jun, hair loss specialist Han Sang-bo.

Teaser Highlights: A Raw, Emotional Look at Starting Over

The show’s teaser sets the tone with the powerful phrase: “People facing a brand-new starting line in life.”

Each cast member shares their personal “why”:

Huh Jae: “After retiring, I felt aimless. I want to prove I can still do something.”

Yulhee: “This isn’t the end. I’m moving forward.”

Sleepy: “I used to always come in last. I want to beat myself this time.”

Bang Eun-hee: “I’m almost 60. I want to show that age doesn’t limit you.”

Context: Yulhee and Choi Minhwan’s High-Profile Divorce

Yulhee, formerly of girl group LABOUM, and Choi Minhwan, drummer of the long-running idol band FTISLAND, were once considered one of K-pop’s youngest married couples.

The two idols began dating publicly in 2017 and surprised fans by announcing their marriage and pregnancy in 2018, when Yulhee was just 21. They later welcomed three children, including a set of twins, and appeared together on the family reality show Mr. House Husband (KBS2), gaining a reputation as an affectionate young couple navigating parenthood.

However, in late 2023, news broke that the couple had quietly filed for divorce.

In October 2024, police began investigating FT Island’s Choi Min-hwan following allegations made by his ex-wife, former LABOUM member Yulhee. She reportedly accused him of abusive behavior during their marriage. While no charges had been filed at the time, authorities confirmed they were looking into the matter. The situation added new complexity to their ongoing custody and divorce proceedings.

The separation became public again recently with reports confirming ongoing discussions over child custody. As of now, Choi Minhwan has been granted full custody, which stirred public debate and fan concern about the situation and how it unfolded.

Yulhee remained largely silent about the matter—until her recent appearance on MBN’s Run for Your Life, where she expressed:

“Divorce isn’t a failure in life. I will overcome this.”

Her comment is widely viewed as her first public statement acknowledging the divorce and its emotional toll.

More Than a Race: It’s About Growth

As training intensifies, viewers will see not just sore muscles, but powerful transformations. The show’s message?

“Running isn’t about records—it’s about the journey.”

With stories of resilience, identity, and healing, Run for Your Life promises to be one of the most relatable and inspiring shows of 2025.

The show premieres April 19 at 8:20 PM KST, marking MBN’s 30th anniversary special project.