World-renowned popera maestro Lim Hyeong-ju appears on TV CHOSUN's "Dad and I season 3" with his mother, with whom he has a love-hate relationship. Attention is focused on Lim Hyeong-ju's offstage daily life after he decided to make his first grants to a reality program.
On the 14th at 10 p.m., TV CHOSUN's "Dad and I season 3" returns to tell the story of parents and children who are closer than anyone in the world but sometimes feel further than anyone in the world. It is a real family observation program that takes time for parents and children to reveal the long-suppressed grudges in their hearts, understand each other and forgive each other, showing how much they mean to each other.
The teaser released on the 7th featured popera tenor Lim Hyeong-ju, who was loved by the nation as the "patriotic song boy" after singing the national anthem solo at the 2003 inauguration of Roh Moo-hyun, becoming the youngest in the country's history at 17. Lim Hyeong-ju is the owner of numerous records, including being the first Korean musician to sign with the world's four major record labels and being the youngest male vocalist to perform at Carnegie Hall. He is also known for receiving numerous presidential citations. He received the Obama Presidential Award in the United States in 2015 as the youngest recipient, and received the Republic of Korea presidential citation, setting the record for receiving presidential awards from both Korea and the United States simultaneously. In 2019 he received the U.S. Trump presidential volunteer award, and in 2025 he received the U.S. Trump presidential award. Lim Hyeong-ju, a popera tenor of 28 years, said, "This record doesn't belong to anyone but me," showing a relaxed demeanor.
Despite holding the titles of youngest and first, what he wanted was different. Lim Hyeong-ju revealed that he was a son who did not receive recognition from his mother, saying, "The only person who doesn't acknowledge me is my mother. Because I couldn't get recognition from my mother, I worked so hard to enter competitions and to be praised by my teachers to be recognized by others."
He went on to reveal complex feelings toward his mother, saying, "There were times I hated her to death, and times I disliked her like an anti-fan." He even expressed hurt toward his mother, who seemed annoyed by him, asking, "Aren't you proud of being 'Lim Hyeong-ju's mother'?" and then wailed, "I hate that my mother is my mother so much I could die...what on earth have I been living for?" as he cried out in anguish.
Lim Hyeong-ju's mother, who raised the global star, works as the head of his agency. As someone who still stages her son's performances and leads the field, she exuded exceptional charisma and teased a "legendary character." Although she is his mother, she is also his manager, so Lim Hyeong-ju's mother drove her son harder and treated him in a Spartan way. She explained the harsher approach for her son's independence, saying, "I think I raised him more strictly in a Spartan way because I was afraid he might seem like a mama's boy." But that mindset didn't reach Lim Hyeong-ju, and faced with his desperate cries toward her, his mother showed a pained expression, saying, "Did I raise him like that..."
Amid the parents' and child's conflicting sincere feelings, whether the love-hate relationship between Lim Hyeong-ju and his mother can understand each other can be seen on "Dad and I season 3," which returns on the 14th at 10 p.m.<
[photo] 'Dad and I'
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