As Hwang Jung-eum has announced a New Year's gathering with Sugar members Ayumi and Yuk Hye-seung (Han Ye-won), Park Soo-jin's absence has led to renewed speculation about her retirement from the entertainment industry.
Hwang Jung-eum is set to make her first appearance showing her daily life with her two sons through the jointly produced variety show 'Solo because' airing on SBS Plus and E Channel on March 4.
In particular, the broadcast on that day is expected to reveal Hwang Jung-eum's encounter with Sugar members Ayumi and Yuk Hye-seung enjoying a "fiery New Year's party."
They are reportedly reassembling Sugar after 20 years to showcase powerful performances, even going as far as to break into spontaneous dance, electrifying the venue.
More than anything, the recent entertainment world has seen a hot topic surrounding the reunions of first and second-generation legendary idols such as Baby Vox, 2NE1, and Big Bang, raising interests in whether Sugar can showcase a reunion stage after more than 20 years.
However, the absence of Park Soo-jin, who was a member of Sugar, was felt at the gathering, leaving fans disappointed. Park Soo-jin gained attention for overcoming a 13-year age gap to marry Bae Yong-joon in 2015.
The couple welcomed their first son in October 2016, just a year after their marriage, and became parents of a daughter born in April 2018. However, during the process of giving birth to their second child, Park Soo-jin was embroiled in controversy over alleged preferential treatment in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit and special visits at the postpartum care center, leading her to post a handwritten apology, and she quietly dedicated herself to parenting after the second birth.
The last time Park Soo-jin appeared on television was in 'Oksudong Apprentice,' which aired in 2016. In 2022, speculation arose about the couple's retirement from the entertainment industry and their move to Hawaii. The couple has reportedly been residing in Hawaii for several years, citing reasons related to their children's education.
Additionally, recent news about Bae Yong-joon and Park Soo-jin has sparked attention as reports emerged that they donated to a private school in Hawaii and contributed 3 billion won to Yonsei Medical Center in December of last year to support medical advancements and treatment for low-income teenagers and infants.
[Photo] OSEN DB, SBS Plus, E Channel