![Broadcaster Park Mi-sun and her husband Lee Bong-won. [MBN]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/06/02/news-p.v1.20260602.e2e224481fb445358e09d7e3a3be9074_P1.jpg)
Broadcaster Park Mi-sun, who stepped away from television while battling breast cancer, is making her variety show comeback after roughly a year and a half.
At an online press conference Tuesday for MBN's new reality program "Precious Family Next Door," Park said she had wrestled with self-doubt before agreeing to return. "I had a lot of worries about whether I should start working again, and I lacked confidence," she said. "But when I heard that Lee Su-geun was on board and that my husband would be joining too, I felt I could lean on them a little — that's what gave me the courage to start."
Park's last television appearance before the hiatus was on TV Chosun's "I'm Alone Now," which ended in December 2024 — making this comeback roughly 18 months in the making. She had halted all activities after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024 to focus on surgery and chemotherapy. She later opened up about her illness on tvN's "You Quiz on the Block" in November last year, drawing wide support from viewers.
Park also drew laughs at the press conference with a playful jab at her co-stars. "I was worried my stamina wasn't what it used to be, but when it came down to actually filming, I found myself thinking I might have to be the one holding things together — those two (Lee Bong-won and Lee Su-geun) were a bit hopeless," she said, sending the room into laughter.
She went on to say the experience had felt warm and familiar. "I filmed comfortably with people who feel like real family," she said. "This program has life in it."
"Precious Family Next Door" is a family observational reality show that follows the daily lives of celebrity households, capturing moments of laughter, conflict, love and reconciliation. The cast includes Park Mi-sun and her husband Lee Bong-won, Koyote member Shin Ji and her husband Moon Won — who recently married — actor Ko Jun-hee, and broadcaster couple Jeon Min-gi and Jeong Mi-nyeo.
Studio MC Lee Su-geun said the show reflects the full spectrum of family life. "Someone living alone, someone newly married, someone who's been married a little while, someone who's been married a long time — the happiness, conflict and worries each family feels are all different," he said. "Everything about our lives is in this show, and I find myself learning a lot just watching it."
Park echoed that sentiment. "When I see Ko Jun-hee, I'm reminded of myself before I got married. When I see Shin Ji, I think of my own newlywed days," she said. "Watching Jeon Min-gi's couple brought back memories of when we were going through a rough patch — and then I see how we came through all of that to become the couple we are now."
"Precious Family Next Door" aired its first episode Tuesday at 9:50 p.m.
betterj@heraldcorp.com
