Celebrity obsession led a Korean housewife to secretly take massive loans for her idol, pushing her marriage and family to the brink.
South Korea continues to produce idol groups at an astonishing pace, and fan culture has become deeply embedded in everyday life.
To support their favorite stars, many fans willingly invest enormous amounts of money, time, and emotional energy.
For some, however, this passion spirals out of control.
In extreme cases, fans secretly take out loans without their families’ knowledge, all to boost album sales and chart rankings. 
A Disturbing Story Shared on a National Radio Program
In early January, a shocking case of obsessive fandom leading to marital collapse surfaced in South Korea.
On January 5, a man in his forties, identified only as Mr. A, shared his experience on a legal advice radio program aired by YTN.
Mr. A explained that he and his wife had a ten-year-old daughter.
His wife was a full-time homemaker.
According to him, his wife became obsessed two years earlier with a male idol who debuted through a televised audition program.
She soon immersed herself completely in fan-related activities.
At first, Mr. A believed it was simply a harmless way for her to relieve stress from childcare.
He tried to be understanding.
Over time, however, the situation became increasingly extreme.
When Fandom Takes Priority Over Parenting
Mr. A said his wife began neglecting basic parental responsibilities.
She often skipped picking up their daughter from school so she could follow the idol’s schedule.
On several occasions, their daughter had to wait alone at a convenience store after school because her mother never arrived.
Meals were also neglected.
The home became cluttered with takeout trash and boxes of idol merchandise.
There was barely enough space to move around.
Mr. A tried everything he could think of.
He attempted calm discussions, emotional reassurance, and even angry confrontations.
None of it made any difference.
A Hidden Loan and a Shocking Confession
The situation escalated when Mr. A discovered a loan notification hidden deep inside his bedroom closet.
The loan had been taken out under his name.
Only then did he realize that his wife had secretly used his personal seal to secure the loan.
When confronted, she admitted the truth.
She explained that the money was used to place birthday advertisements for the idol at Gangnam Station.
She had also purchased 500 copies of the same album in hopes of winning access to a fan signing event.
After checking their finances, Mr. A discovered that the combined total of loans and credit card debt exceeded 80 million won.
That amount equals roughly 380,000 yuan.
He said he could not accept what she had done.
“Money Can Be Earned Again”
Instead of apologizing, his wife reacted with anger.
She shouted that her husband had done nothing for her.
She claimed that thanks to the idol, she had overcome depression and found a reason to live again.
Then she made a statement that shattered what remained of the marriage.
She said money could always be earned again.
But if her idol’s ranking dropped, that loss would be unacceptable.
Mr. A said that hearing those words erased any love he still felt.
He wanted a divorce and hoped to gain custody of their child.
His wife, however, refused to agree to a divorce.
Mr. A admitted that he felt completely hopeless.
Legal Experts Weigh In
Attorney Shin Jin-hee from Shinsegae-ro Law Firm commented on the case.
She stated that this was no longer a simple hobby issue.
Failing to fulfill childcare duties and causing severe financial harm to the household constituted valid grounds for divorce.
Such behavior made the marriage extremely difficult to sustain.
Regarding the 80 million won loan taken without Mr. A’s knowledge, she explained that debts unrelated to shared marital life were personal debts.
They might not be included in asset division.
She advised strongly emphasizing the wife’s fault during divorce proceedings.
Because the wife secretly used her husband’s seal, Mr. A could also seek damages.
From a criminal perspective, the wife could face charges related to forgery of private documents.
Custody and the Child’s Best Interests
Attorney Shin also addressed the issue of child custody.
While homemakers are often favored because they serve as primary caregivers, that alone is not decisive.
If proper childcare has not been provided, the court should prioritize the child’s best interests.
In this case, she argued that custody could reasonably be awarded to Mr. A.
Public Outrage and a Broader Warning
After the case became public, many South Korean netizens expressed outrage.
They argued that fandom should have limits.
Some comments were blunt.
Many questioned whether someone who neglected her child deserved to be called a mother.
Fandom, at its core, is a personal interest.
Everyone has the freedom to admire and support celebrities.
But when admiration turns into obsession, the consequences can be devastating.
Debt, broken families, and emotional damage are a heavy price to pay for blind devotion.
In the end, chasing idols at the expense of one’s family rarely leads to anything worth celebrating.
