North Korean defector boss Lee Soon-sil recalled the past when she faced opposition to marriage from her in-laws.
On the 7th, the KBS2 program "The boss's ears are donkey ears" (hereinafter "The boss's ears") depicted Lee Soon-sil going on summer vacation with her employees to her in-laws' house in Jin'an, North Jeolla Province.
On that day, Jun Hyun-moo teased Lee Soon-sil, saying, "Why go to your in-laws' house for a reward vacation?" and Kim Suk also pointed out, "Isn't it too self-centered?" In response, Lee Soon-sil claimed, "When I go to Sokcho or Gangneung, people are crowding and it's unbearably hot, but here, look how quiet it is, enjoying the cool breeze. The air is good."
After arriving at her in-laws' house, Lee Soon-sil warmly greeted her mother-in-law. Referring to her mother-in-law as "Mom" and her sister-in-law as "Sister," she expressed, "When North Korean defectors come to Korea, they come alone. So when I say 'Mom,' it brings tears to my eyes, and I miss my mom, but I don't even miss anything now. I even call 'Mom' at home now. I called my father-in-law 'Father' when he was alive."
She said, "I have lived calling 'Mom' and 'Father' from the beginning," adding, "My mother-in-law is so nice. She's better than my birth mother. My birth mother was so busy living in North Korea, she didn't have time to nurture emotions. There are a lot of family members. Here, sharing emotions has taught me what affection is since I came to Korea."
Her mother-in-law also boasted about the massage chair and appliances that Lee Soon-sil bought, stating, "Even if I didn't like it, how could I not like it?" Lee Soon-sil explained, "The TV was so small when I first came, so I changed it to the latest model, and then I changed it again because a bigger one came out. I replaced the sofa, air conditioner, rice cooker, and microwave. I bought all the doors too."
In response, her mother-in-law expressed, "I still think that way. A daughter-in-law is a daughter-in-law, but I think of her like a daughter, and she also calls me Mom. We are not just a daughter-in-law and mother-in-law. I have adopted her as my third daughter." However, Lee Soon-sil revealed, "But didn't you say you wouldn't treat me as a daughter-in-law when I first came to this house? Hurry up and tell me. Why did you say that?"
The mother-in-law, sweating nervously, replied, "We agreed not to talk about that," recalling, "Was it during Chuseok or a holiday? My son said, 'Mom, I have someone I'm going with today.' He said he brought a girl. When I called her to come, she arrived, and I was surprised by how big she was. I asked where she was from, and she said North. I was shocked. (This isn't possible) ... we are police family and it's not allowed," revealing that her husband's uncle was a police officer at the time.
Then the mother-in-law recounted, "When we said it wasn't possible, she bowed her head and tears were dropping from her eyes," and Lee Soon-sil expressed her disappointment, saying, "But at that time, the thought that stuck with me was 'Isn't she a spy?'" The mother-in-law then apologized, saying, "That's why I said I was wrong..." and Lee Soon-sil remarked, "However, all of us North Korean defectors say that when we visit our in-laws, we hear several times if we are spies. It's not just my mom; many hear that."
Lee Soon-sil shared, "But my father said, 'Our youngest child crossed rivers and mountains to come here, so why do you say such things? It's not that kind of era anymore,' and from that day on, we decided to live in our house. I cried a lot at my father's words. I still have those emotions," expressing her affection towards her father. "I was really thankful to my father. He cherished me a lot."
Her husband recounted, "He was in a university hospital after battling illness for 10 years and experienced delirium during that time. He couldn't recognize people. However, when I said, 'Dad, your son is here,' he didn't respond; but when this person came and asked, 'Dad, do you know who I am?' he took my hand and said, 'I know.' When I asked, 'Who am I?' he said, 'Soon-sil.' I thought, 'Wow, he truly cared for this person.'"
Lee Soon-sil stated, "I always say that I came this far because I have family. The support of family is incredible," and when her mother-in-law asked, "If your son and daughter-in-law fight, whose side will you take?", she answered, "I can't choose a side." However, Lee Soon-sil countered, "When my son and I fall into the water, I will save my son first," prompting her mother-in-law to joke, "That's right because if you're gone, my son can just find a new bride," leaving Lee Soon-sil fuming and causing laughter.
[Photo] KBS2
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