Husband’s Affair with Friend’s Girlfriend: False Accusation & Legal Battle
A South Korean man involved in a complex case of infidelity and alleged false accusation has been cleared of criminal charges, though a civil court ruled against the woman with whom he had an affair. The case, initially reported by JTBC’s “Incident Headquarters” program on March 24, 2026, centers around a married man who engaged in a relationship with his friend’s girlfriend while his wife was recovering after childbirth.
The events unfolded in November 2024, while the man’s wife, identified as A, was in a postpartum care facility following the birth of their child. According to the broadcast report, the man hosted a gathering at his home with several friends, including one woman who was in a relationship with another attendee. A dispute arose between the couple, leading to the men leaving the room, leaving the man and his friend’s girlfriend alone.
Subsequent review of home surveillance footage revealed unusual behavior from the woman. The footage showed her attempting to avoid a camera in the living room, moving stealthily towards a bedroom, and then disabling a camera inside that room, as reported by JTBC. Audio recordings then captured a conversation between the man and the woman, where she repeatedly asked to stay, and a relationship ensued.
Initially, the woman acknowledged the affair, stating it was consensual, though she claimed to have no recollection due to intoxication. However, after a civil lawsuit for damages was filed, she alleged she had been sexually assaulted. She cited an alcohol dependency as contributing to a state of diminished capacity at the time of the encounter.
Police investigated the allegations of sexual assault, reviewing the home surveillance footage and other evidence. They determined that there was insufficient evidence to support a claim of incapacitation and closed the investigation without charges. The man subsequently filed a complaint of false accusation, which was also dropped by both police and prosecutors due to a lack of evidence demonstrating intentional malice, according to the JTBC report.
Despite the lack of criminal charges, the civil case proceeded, and a court ruled in favor of the man’s wife, A. The court ordered the woman to pay A 25 million Korean won (approximately $18,500 USD as of March 25, 2026) in damages.
“Incident Headquarters” is a JTBC program that investigates the circumstances surrounding news events, according to the JTBC website. The program’s YouTube channel, established in 2022, has become a popular source of news and analysis in South Korea, with JTBC News programs becoming increasingly popular since 2019, according to Namuwiki.