'Working mom' model Lee Hyun opened up about her married life and parenting.
On the 13th, a new episode of 'Ahn Eun Sook' titled 'The troubles of dual-income couples! The rules of non-touching household division of labor, the world of couples we see for the first time' was released on K.Will's YouTube channel 'Sister-in-law is K.Will'.
In the video, invited as 'Ahn Eun Sook', Lee Hyun recalled seeing K.Will for the first time at a pork belly restaurant frequented by G-Dragon and asked if it was uncomfortable to get so close. K.Will, who is shy, humorously noted, with an ironic statement, that he aspires not to be shy, and at that moment, the legendary 'Chanel bag meme' of K.Will was revealed. Upon seeing the photo, Lee Hyun remarked, 'This bag is recognized by models too,' adding, 'The first luxury bag I bought was this one, which cost 1.9 million won at the time. Now they say it has risen to 8 million won.'
Lee Hyun expressed about being a 'working mom', 'I'm currently dedicating a lot of time to my work. I'm fortunate that my husband understands everything I do. Thanks to his consideration, I can work as a working mom. My husband considers my career as the top priority, so I'm focusing more on my career than on home responsibilities.'
Currently hosting MBN's 'Sokpoori Show Dongchimi' and actively participating in SBS's 'Goal Daring Her,' Lee Hyun commented on the two shows saying, 'The stress levels are different. I don't have stress over schedules or such, but I sleep well before 'Dongchimi.' The only source of stress is 'Goal Daring Her.' I'm very sad and frustrated that the ball does not go my way. I've lost my toenails four times, so it's possible to apply for workers' compensation through SBS insurance due to the high number of injuries. Since there are many injuries, the system is established. 'Goal Daring Her' is a mixed experience for me. If I had only thought of it as work, I don't think I would have come this far. Everything else is just personal to me, but 'Goal Daring Her' is a team effort, so it's fun. Having my team fuels my passion even more.'
Due to her performance in 'Goal Daring Her,' Lee Hyun's second son thinks of her as a soccer player. Lee Hyun stated, 'My second child has celebrated his 6th birthday, and since I've been involved in 'Goal Daring Her' for 5 years, he has been exposed to soccer since he was a baby. So from his perspective, I am a soccer player. When he goes to kindergarten, he says my job is a soccer player, and when they draw a map, he says mom is at the soccer field. The first child remembers when I was modeling, so when imitating me, he takes poses.'
Lee Hyun married a man who is one year older than her when she was 29 in 2012. Lee Hyun shared, 'I debuted at 23, during a revival of the Korean fashion scene, so my portfolio built up quickly in just a year. I took that to New York and worked mainly abroad from ages 24 to 28. Then, I returned to Korea wanting to continue my career, but I made a bombshell announcement that I was getting married. The company opposed it and even tried to persuade my husband, but my heart was set,' adding, 'I married with the possibility of retiring in mind, but after getting pregnant with my first child, commercials for maternity products started coming in, and my career shifted.'
Being a female entertainer, marriage, pregnancy, and childbirth can lead to a career interruption. Lee Hyun noted, 'When entertainers marry, they tend to understand each other's profession better, but when an entertainer marries someone from a different field, there can be misunderstandings and conflicts. At the beginning of our marriage, after late-night recordings, I said it was tough coming home, and he responded, 'What's tough about just sitting and chatting?' That remark became a turning point for us to talk more about each other, and after filming 'Same Dream - You Are My Destiny' together, my husband began to understand me better.'
When K.Will asked if they share financial responsibilities, Lee Hyun responded, 'We don't combine our finances, but we open up about our financial situations. My husband wanted to pursue art as a child but feels regret for not pursuing it, so I think he finds vicarious satisfaction through me doing what I want.' She added, 'A few years ago, I felt that balancing work and parenting was really tough, and I understood why there aren't many working moms in the broadcasting industry. Most of the veteran hosts are fathers. There are relatively fewer female broadcasters, and when I told my husband it was impossible, he said, 'You can do it.' He's been actively supportive since then.'
Lee Hyun's husband is currently a graduate student. Lee Hyun mentioned, 'The company is sponsoring my husband's graduate studies, so he has become a student and has more free time, allowing him to take care of the kids alongside the sitter.' She added, 'The kids are close to their dad when playing, and when they need care, they are close to me. Despite my absence, I'm grateful for that. They say how children go through adolescence is important, but no matter how well you play with young children, adolescence introduces a completely different self. Psychiatrists even consider adolescence as a kind of illness. I had a rough adolescence, to the point that my grandmother thought I was possessed. I was a different person back then. My mom never laid a hand on me, but one time when I ranted at her, she got so angry while slicing a watermelon that she hurled half of it at me. I recall that very vividly. So afterwards, I was sent to a dormitory, and that's how my adolescence got cured.'
Lee Hyun, who is responsible for disciplining the children, said, 'I take charge of discipline these days because if the dad disciplines them, it could harm their relationship later. The kids are afraid of me, and I'm strict with my son to prevent him from becoming strong in adolescence without being controlled by me. I think most moms are like that; when they scold, they are strict, but later they reflect and cry, thinking if that was really necessary.'
When asked how she hopes her children will grow up, Lee Hyun said, 'I hope they do what they love. In our time, studying was the norm, and that allowed us to live, but nobody knows what the world will be like when today's children grow up. Nothing can be forced anymore.' She added, 'Parents find it hard to accept their children's normalcy. They say it's important to start thinking of them as ordinary kids, so there's no anger, and they see them as they are, but when that doesn't happen, they become disappointed and angry.'
Finally, Lee Hyun said, 'In my life, there was no option of not getting married. Marriage is one thing, but having children is too important in life. My attachment to my children is immense and they are more precious than my life. I think I would get married again if I were born again. I have sometimes not recommended marriage, but as I mature and watch my children grow, I find myself strongly recommending marriage.'
끝으로 이현이는 "내 인생에 결혼을 안 하는 선택지가 없었다. 결혼도 결혼이지만 아이가 인생에서 너무 중요하다. 아이에 대한 애착이 엄청나고 내 목숨보다 소중하다. 다시 태어나도 결혼은 할 것 같다. 결혼을 추천하지 않을 때도 있었지만 성숙한 시기에 접어들고 아이들이 커가는 걸 보면서 결혼을 강력하게 추천하는 입장이다"라고 말했다.
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