SEOUL, Sept 17 — The stand-off between Kim Hyun Joong and his ex-girlfriend, only identified as Miss Choi, over the baby that she claims is his, has taken another acrimonious turn.
Kim’s lawyer Lee Jae Man called a press conference today to clarify Miss Choi’s claim that the singer didn’t want to submit to a paternity test.
He read a letter to the media that Kim is understood to have written from the army.
In it, he refuted all allegations that he had been reluctant to take a paternity test.
According to AllKpop, he said, “They say that Kim Hyun Joong is refusing the paternity test, but I only heard about the expected delivery date of September 12 before enlisting and never heard about her giving birth. I saw the reports about the baby’s birth and read that I was refusing the paternity test. I believe those reports came out because I wasn’t saying anything. While in the army, I have completed all the documentation and the preparation for the DNA test. I thought that the other side would contact me once September 12 comes around, and waited.
“The reason I want this paternity test is because that is the only way I can take any sort of legal responsibility [for the baby]. Although I want to raise the baby, as it is not something that’s up to me, I’m sorry that all I can say is that I will take legal responsibility. Even while writing this, I feel weird. It makes me feel especially weird as a person who is currently a soldier. Everyday I think about not being able to congratulate the birth of the baby like other fathers and whether the baby looks like me. I think I will live on for the rest of my life feeling sorry to the baby for not being there on the day of birth, which only happens once in a lifetime,” he added.
He confirmed that he knows the baby’s gender and that he will take full responsibility for the baby’s welfare once paternity is confirmed.
He wrote, “I question myself about whether I’m actually ready, and what I should do. My heart feels suffocated as I can only do what the court allows me to do when it comes to the custody of the child. The other side has only told me the gender of the baby, but they haven’t told me about the blood type nor the hospital. They’re also telling lies so that I won’t be able to get close to the baby. Although I’m a lacking father, I’m going to take full responsibility. Although I want to see the baby’s face and I’m very curious, as of now, I will be patient and do all that I can as a dignified father.
Kim also asked for the baby’s privacy to be respected, saying, “I sincerely ask this of you. I do not want any information regarding the baby being exposed anywhere. Although my words are lacking, I hope that you will understand.”
Lee also provided proof that Kim had already done his part of the paternity test by sharing a photo of the singer in the army getting his DNA swabbed, AllKpop said.
The lawyer added that although a request had been made for the baby’s blood to complete the DNA test, Miss Choi’s representatives had denied their requests.
Instead, they asked that Kim is present in person for any DNA testing — although it is understood that he is unable to comply due to his mandatory military service.
