TV Chosun ‘Dad and Me Season 3’

On TV Chosun’s ‘Dad and Me Season 3’, ‘39-year veteran’ actor Jeon Soo-kyung heard for the first time the true feelings of her 97-year-old father, who, behind his always-bright demeanor, had to carry the grief of two children who passed away before him, and she was moved to tears. The broadcast recorded a nationwide rating of 3.9%, with a peak minute rating of 4.2% (Nielsen Korea, nationwide), ranking No. 1 in its time slot.

On the episode aired on the 4th, first-generation original musical actor Jeon Soo-kyung revealed for the first time her daily life with her 97-year-old father. Married to an American husband and mother of twin daughters, Jeon said, “The twins wanted to introduce their grandfather’s healthy, energetic side and insisted it would be great if he appeared on TV,” and began bragging about her father. Born in 1930 and now 97, Jeon’s father is living modern Korean history: born under Japanese colonial rule, he witnessed liberation during his school years, fought in the Korean War at 20, and was dispatched to the Vietnam War just as he started a family.

Approaching 100, Jeon’s father’s daily routine was youth itself. At 97, he deftly played music on his smartphone and even danced to start the day. After enjoying some at-home karaoke, he moved leisurely to the living room and demonstrated challenging exercises, from back stretches to hip openers. Never stopping, he switched on a karaoke machine and delivered a flawless performance, from singing to stage manners. Jeon’s father said, “When I’m singing, there are no stray thoughts. As long as there’s music, I don’t need anything else,” smiling happily. Lim Hyung-joo said, “He’s healthier than I am,” amazed by the father’s vigorous, positive routine. Following the morning show, Jeon’s father brought out a blanket and spent a full day on his own, playing hwatu (Korean cards) solo.

Visiting her father’s home, Jeon carefully checked on his health and even made sure he took various supplements. She then scolded him while clearing out piles of items around the house. Because he had trouble throwing things away, the home was full of things to discarddozens of plastic bags, empty bottles, and even ten worn frying pans. Seeing this, Jeon Hyun-moo said, “It’s like looking at my parents’ house. The problem is, they don’t throw things out,” revealing parents’ collector tendencies. Jeon Hyun-moo added, “When I give them gifts, they often save them until they expire. I once tried to throw away luxury cosmetics that had gotten too old, and they stopped me, saying they’d put them on their feet.” He continued, “So I ended up giving them cash instead, but they didn’t spend that either, keeping the wad of money like an heirloom. I’d love it if they used it right away.” ‘Team Children’ Han Hye-jin X Lim Hyung-joo X Jeon Soo-kyung empathized strongly.

Jeon and her father visited their regular barbecue restaurant. Without reading glasses, he went straight to the kiosk to order, showing off remarkable eyesight, and then launched into a power mukbang of meat and marinated crab. Everyone was stunned by the hearty eating of a 97-year-old with strong teeth, while daughter Jeon nagged, saying, “You eat too salty; it’s bad for your health,” sparring playfully with her dad. After the meal, Jeon visited the market where her father had once run a shoe store. Jeon recalled, “I remember how he worked. There was a stove in the shopwe’d roast rice cakes on itand when customers came to pick up their shoes, I would check the ledger and find them.” As her father didn’t have winter shoes, she bought him a pair. Jeon’s father beamed, saying, “I never knew my feet could feel this comfortable. I like the shoes, but the real honor is that it’s the first time in this century I’ve received a gift from my daughter.” Jeon said, “Because he was a master shoemaker, it never occurred to me to buy him shoes. He chose them so easily and liked them so much that I thought I should buy him more in the future,” feeling proud.

Jeon also brought photo albums from home to go on a trip down memory lane with her father. The albums brimmed with memoriesfrom her childhood and high school graduation photos to snapshots from her theater and film department days with Yoo Oh-sung, Sol Kyung-gu, and Park Mi-sun. Jeon’s father said, “She won scholarships and handled everything herself in college, and she even invited us to her performances. When I went, people would say, ‘Is Su-kyung’s father here?,’ which lifted my spirits even more. On those days, I felt like I was ascending to heaven,” proud of his treasure of a daughter. The reason Jeon had prepared the albums, however, was different. She said, “I grew up thinking it was just my older brother and me, but while looking through our old family albums, I came across photos of my older brothers from long ago. No matter how cheerful my father is, sending a child off must have been a shattering painwhat was he like back then? I wanted to know how he managed to overcome it,” naturally broaching the subject of the two older brothers she never met.

Jeon’s father recalled the day he suddenly received word that his first son, who had gone out to play with friends, had died in a puddle in less than an hour. About that time, he said, “What use is it to beat the ground? I remember wailing and flailing about until someone supported me and I calmed down, but there was no time to process it. I just let time pass like that.” He went on to reveal that he also lost his second son to encephalitis: “Back then, I don’t know why there was so much illness… What good would it do to blame the world or beat the ground like a drum? I weathered those trials as the years went by.” Han Hye-jin lamented, “Who could ever truly fathom that pain?”

Opening up for the first time about what he had held in his heart, Jeon’s father shared the one wish he had for his time with his daughter: “Rather than doing well or not, I just hope we spend our time together joyfully.” Hearing this, Jeon’s eyes also welled with tears. After revealing the hidden family story, Jeon decided to step closer into her father’s life for the Lunar New Year by attending a veterans’ gathering where he serves as vice-chairman. The Jeon father-daughter duo’s special holiday with fellow veterans will be revealed in a future broadcast.

‘Dad and Me Season 3’ airs every Wednesday at 10 p.m.