Kim Byung-man's Agency Clarifies Reason for Adoption Nullification, Citing 'Mutual Interests'

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Comedian Kim Byung-man's (50) agency has re-explained the court's reason for granting the nullification of his special adoption. While the agency had previously stated that the nullification was due to the adopted daughter's alleged false accusations, it was confirmed that the court excluded this from its judgment.

On August 11th, Kim Byung-man's agency, Skyturtle, issued an apology, stating, "We are sorry for causing concern with the unfavorable news articles and we are deeply regretful."

Kim Byung-man was granted a ruling to nullify the special adoption of his adopted daughter, identified as Ms. B, at the Seoul Family Court on August 8th. This decision legally removed Ms. B from Kim Byung-man's family register.

At the time, Kim Byung-man's side stated the reason for the nullification was that "the daughter's unfilial conduct toward her parent was recognized." They claimed Ms. B's testimony of witnessing her mother (Kim Byung-man's ex-wife) being assaulted was a false accusation.

The agency has now corrected the facts, stating, "The nullification was granted based on the welfare of the now 25-year-old child (Ms. B) and because it was not in their mutual best interests."

Court Cites Welfare, Not Unfilial Conduct

According to Civil Law Article 908-5, there are two grounds for nullifying a special adoption: 1) "When a parent abuses, abandons, or otherwise significantly harms the welfare of the adopted child," or 2) "When the adopted child's unfilial conduct makes it impossible to maintain the relationship with the parent."

Kim Byung-man's initial statement interpreted the court's decision as being based on grounds #2, which addresses unfilial conduct. However, Ms. B had expressed her desire not to be un-adopted during three separate nullification lawsuits.

Ms. B's mother, referred to as Ms. S, had previously filed a complaint against Kim Byung-man for habitual assault and sexual assault. Ms. B was a witness in the case, which led to Kim Byung-man filing a criminal complaint against her for making a false accusation.

The court presiding over Kim Byung-man and Ms. B's lawsuit ruled that "Ms. B has not met with Kim Byung-man for about six years since 2019," and that "their intimacy has also disappeared due to Kim Byung-man's divorce lawsuit and criminal case with his ex-wife, Ms. S."

The court further noted that "for years, Ms. B has been in a position where she would inevitably face criticism from one side if she sided with the other during the divorce and criminal investigations." The court also pointed out that Kim Byung-man and Ms. S had been using the special adoption relationship as a bargaining chip. Given that Ms. B is a 25-year-old adult, the court added that "there is a desperate need for her to lead an independent life."

The court considered these reasons comprehensively, concluding that the case fell under grounds #1, "otherwise significantly harms the welfare of the adopted child." The court ruled that it would "not proceed with a judgment on whether grounds #2 apply."

Below is the full statement from Kim Byung-man's agency

Hello. We are sorry and regretful for causing concern with the unfavorable news articles.

Kim Byung-man married Ms. S in 2010 without a wedding, starting their marriage with a marriage registration. At the time, he adopted her child, who was 9 years old, as his own.

They later separated in 2012, and in July 2019, a dispute over Kim Byung-man's income led to them starting a divorce lawsuit.

The first lawsuit to nullify the adoption began in 2020, followed by a second lawsuit in 2022.

Through a third nullification lawsuit in November 2024, the Seoul Family Court granted the nullification on August 8, 2025, based on the welfare of the child, who is now over 25, and because it was not in their mutual best interests.

Through this ruling, Kim Byung-man only hopes that the child he adopted through his marriage to Ms. S will no longer have to suffer.