Kim Hyun Joong's Parents Suggest He Might Raise The Child

A recent paternity test by Seoul National University College of Medicine confirmed that Kim Hyun Joong is the father of his ex-girlfriend's child and according to his legal team, the singer-actor has agreed to take responsibility for the child's upbringing. But comments by his parents suggest that  a custody battle may follow. Kim's parents recently voiced an opinion on whether he might be the one to raise the child.

According to the Korean media outlet Korea Times, Kim Hyun Joong's parents have said that they will raise the child if Kim's ex, identified only as Choi, cannot. The singer-actor's father Kim Hong Sung spoke about the subject on the celebrity news show "Section TV."

"We hope a court will decide whether my son or his ex-girlfriend will provide a better environment for the child," said Kim Hong Sung.

Choi's lawyer Sun Jung Moon considered this statement to be defamation as it called into question her ability to parent.

"We will demand an apology on their insult and their defamation of character on her pregnancy and birth."

Choi is currently requesting $4200 a month to raise her child as well as alimony.

Choi claimed that the couple lived together for two years and she was pregnant five times. Kim's legal team says they never lived together, which would be a factor in the granting of alimony.

Kim and his ex have been involved in legal procedures since 2014 when she accused him of four charges of assault. She dropped three of the charges after reaching a settlement which forbade her from discussing the charges again. One charge went to trial and resulted in Kim paying a fine.

The couple reconciled after that only to break up in December 2014. In January she announced that she was pregnant with Kim Hyun Joong's child. The child, a son, was born in September, but the DNA testing was delayed due to objections on both sides until the Seoul Family Court ordered a test and specified a location.

Choi is currently suing Kim for psychological damages that she claims she suffered as the result of a miscarriage allegedly caused by the 2014 assault. He claims that she was never pregnant. Because she has broken the terms of their 2014 settlement to never discuss the charges, he is counter-suing her.

Kim, currently serving his mandatory two-year military duty in Paju, has not yet seen his child.