South Korean actress Ham So Won announces divorce from 18-year-younger husband but continues living together

South Korean actress Ham So Won (R) and 18-year-younger former husband Jin Hua. Photo from Instagram

According to MK, Ham, 48, revealed on August 16 that she and Jin separated in December 2022. Despite the divorce, the couple has continued to share an apartment in Seoul and maintain a public presence through frequent live-streams. Ham explained that they "cannot separate" largely due to their daughter.

She expressed that, as the eldest in the family, she feels like the "leader" for Jin and their daughter, bearing most of the responsibility. Ham's strong personality and Jin's need for affection often led to conflicts.

Initially, they tried to keep their separation private, but eventually, the situation became intolerable. Ham said, "I thought long and hard before deciding to announce the breakdown of our marriage publicly, and I am sorry. But if our daughter wishes, I will consider reconciling with Jin Hua."

According to Sinchew, Jin Hua, 30, posted a photo on his Instagram story on Aug.7, showing his injured face. The caption read, "Hello everyone, I am Jin Hua. Ham So Won has hit me," written in both Chinese and Korean. The image displayed cuts beneath his eyes and on his nose.

Ham, 48, entered the entertainment industry in 1997 after winning a beauty contest. She gained fame with the box office hit "Sex Is Zero" in 2002 and appeared in the TV series "My Big Family" from 2002-2003.

Despite objections from both families due to their age difference, she and Jin married in 2018. In 2021, she faced criticism on a South Korean TV show for allegedly bullying her husband and manipulating his family.