On June 30, the 322nd episode of KBS Joy's "Ask Anything" featured the story of a person from Uzbekistan who is troubled by their parents' insistence on returning to their hometown despite wanting to continue living in Korea.
In the early part of the broadcast, the 23-year-old college student introduced themselves as having been in Korea for five years. When Lee Sugeun remarked, "Your Korean is really good," the individual mentioned that the biggest influence on their improved Korean skills was Seo Jang-hoon, stating they had watched all five years of "Dating Agency: Cyrano." They then shared, "I really like Korea, and I've come to live here, but I'm graduating now. Right after I graduate, my mom is telling me to come back to Uzbekistan, and I'm worried about it."
When Seo Jang-hoon asked, "Why did you come here in the first place?" the individual explained that their parents were in Russia for business and later, their sister also went to Russia, leaving them to take care of their younger siblings. They said they found solace in watching "The Heirs" at that time, which led them to come to Korea with the hope that they might be happy here.
In response to Lee Sugeun's question, "Is there a reason you have to return to Uzbekistan?" the individual replied, "In our country, there is a culture where women marry early, usually after turning 20. Now that I'm 23, my mom wants me to come back and get married before I become an old maid."
When the individual said they only cared about the person and not their nationality, Seo Jang-hoon suggested, "There is a good way. What if you meet a Korean person here?" The individual then reported that their parents opposed international marriage.
When Lee Sugeun asked if there are any good candidates for marriage in Uzbekistan, the individual shared that through their parents, they were introduced to a 3-year-older Uzbek college student currently living in Busan. They expressed that after meeting and finding him good, they initially met without pressure but were later informed to marry within three months after a conversation between both families a week later. The individual conveyed that it was "sudden and confusing," and when they contacted the man to say they could not marry, he came to the area where the individual lives to persuade them.
The individual remarked, "I've heard a lot on Dating Agency: Cyrano. It seems strange to suggest rushing into marriage. There must be something going on," to which Seo Jang-hoon responded with a thumbs-up, expressing admiration.
When Seo Jang-hoon inquired about their family situation, the individual described it as "average," saying, "I received help when I first came, and during my five years here, I received money three times, and the rest I've managed by working part-time in various jobs like modeling and kitchen work in restaurants."
Seo Jang-hoon asked, "If you manage to get a job in Korea, don't you think that could change things?" The individual replied, "I'm thinking the same thing," noting they are preparing for an internship after graduating from International Trade and can speak Korean, Uzbek, and Russian.
Seo Jang-hoon commented that the individual could potentially be a highly qualified personnel, saying, "If you get a job and enter a large corporation, you might earn more than the family income. Then your parents' opinion could change." He advised, "Work hard on your job search. If you find such a job, you can visit Uzbekistan often."
'Ask Anything' airs every Monday at 8:30 p.m. on KBS Joy, and can be watched on LG U+tv channel 1, Genie tv channel 41, SK Btv channel 53, and the KBS mobile app 'my K.' Regional cable channel numbers can be checked on the KBS N website.
[Photo] 'Ask Anything'
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