Broadcaster Lee Young-ja. [Herald POP (now Herald Muse) provided]
Broadcaster Lee Young-ja. [Herald POP (now Herald Muse) provided]

Broadcaster Lee Young-ja has opened up about the emotional wounds left by her father's infidelity.

Communication expert Kim Chang-ok appeared as a guest on Monday's episode of tvN STORY's variety program "Namgyeoseo Mwohage," a lifestyle talk show.

Kim reflected on memories of his late father. "My father made my mother cook three meals a day even when she was past 80," he said. "Until the day he died, he never ate rice straight from the rice cooker."

"My mother would go to the traditional market, buy ingredients and cook," Kim continued. "My father would eat two bowls and then say it wasn't good." He added that after his father passed away, his mother stopped cooking for herself altogether.

Lee responded by sharing her own experience. "My father cheated so many times, and yet my mother loved him so much," she said. "My father was handsome — he looked like actor Park Geun-hyeong. My mother loved him deeply her whole life, even though he was unfaithful and never took care of the home." Her words struck a chord with Kim.

Lee continued, "I'm always afraid. I think, if I fall for a man, this is what will happen to me — I won't be able to do anything. That fear lives inside me every day. I even think I'd end up getting hit."

Kim responded with gentle humor. "But sunbae, from where I'm standing, you don't exactly have the build of someone who gets hit," he said, drawing laughter.

Lee played along. "That's right — no man of mine would dare lay a hand on me," she said, adding to the laughter.


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