Pop star announces divorce just days after her 26th birthday as she hands over primary custody of her three children to rocker husband in move that’s shocked fans

One of K-pop's most controversial couples has ended their marriage after five years and three children together.

Choi Minhwan, 31, and Yulhee, who just celebrated her 26th birthday last week, announced their divorce on Monday and confirmed that Minhwan would take custody of their three children.

Their relationship caused a scandal when they first got together in 2017, as they were both K-pop idols banned from dating by their respective record labels, keen to maintain the fantasy of being 'available'.

At the time, Minhwan was the drummer for the Korean pop-rock band FT Island, of which he is still a member, and Yulhee was the youngest member of the girl group Laboum.

Yulhee left Laboum shortly after the news broke and the couple quickly announced they were expecting a child and were getting married.

K-pop couple Choi Minhwan, 31, and Yulhee, 26, announced their divorce on Monday

The couple shocked fans when they revealed that father Minhwan will take primary custody of the three children

They welcomed their son Jaeyul in May 2018, got married in October and became pregnant with twins the following year.

Their young age, relationship controversy and status as K-pop idols kept the couple in the spotlight by appearing on a series of Korean talk shows and on the popular reality series Mr House Husband.

These programs often allowed the couple to air their dirty laundry and expose cracks in their marriage.

In an episode of Mr. House Husband revealed Yulhee's father that he discovered his daughter's pregnancy when he met Minhwan for the first time.

The former couple also revealed their scandalous spending habits, which included spending 8 million KRW (AUD$9,249) a month on their children's education, despite the fact that their two youngest were only three at the time and their eldest was only five.

The couple remained a fixture in the spotlight thanks to a series of appearances on talk shows and reality programs, where they often aired their dirty laundry.

The financial confession shed light on the couple's differences as Minhwan opposed the excessive spending, saying it was too much for the children.

Minhwan had a vasectomy shortly after the birth of their twins, but Yulhee revealed soon after that she wanted to have a fourth child.

The couple finally announced their split and impending divorce on Monday.

'Our journey as a couple ends here, but we remain involved as mother and father of our children. We are both actively caring and maintaining communication with the children as best we can,” Yulhee wrote on Instagram.

“After much consideration, we have decided that the father will take care of the three children,” she continued.

'We believe it is good for them to remain in the familiar environment they know, which minimizes practical difficulties and psychological anxiety. “I also make every effort to spend quality time with my children so that they do not feel their mother's absence.”

“So the man is going to raise the kids?” Yulhee has received criticism from the Korean public after handing over custody of her children to their father

The move has divided Koreans, with some condemning the young mother while others threw their support behind her.

“I knew something was wrong with her when she dropped everything to get married at 21,” one person wrote. “Is she going to divorce after having three children? And give all custody to the father? What a crazy person. She doesn't earn any money herself, but bragged about all the money she spent every month on her children's education.'

'I wonder how bad it must have been for her to want a divorce after having three children in her presence… I hope they can find happiness in different ways, while still doing their job as parents! ' another added.

“So the man is going to raise the kids, what does the woman plan to do outside the house all alone??? Genuinely curious… She wants to pursue something other than raising her own children??' asked another.

A fan wrote, “People say she is too much, but she is still amazing because she gave birth to children at a young age and even though she seemed strict, she is a loving mother to them, and Minhwan is a responsible father, so they will too. Well, somehow.”