On TV CHOSUN's 'Dad and I season 3,' world-renowned popera tenor Lim Hyung-joo revealed for the first time his complicated relationship with his mother. Although he is the eldest of four siblings, Lim Hyung-joo, who said he feels like a cold-shouldered son at home, confessed his inner feelings: "I wish my mother would love me even one-third as much as she loves our third child 'Richard.'" The broadcast's national viewership rating that day was 3.9%, and the peak minute rating rose to 4.2% (Nielsen Korea, nationwide), soaring to No. 1 for cable and general programming for two consecutive weeks. 'Dad and I' proved its early buzz by rising 0.3 percentage points from episode 1, which had recorded the highest ratings across all channels.
On the 21st episode of TV CHOSUN's 'Dad and I season 3,' world-renowned popera maestro Lim Hyung-joo appeared with his mother, who is also the head of his agency. Lim Hyung-joo described his relationship with his mother: "Our relationship is special. I'm approaching 40 and my mother is approaching 70, and I felt that there may be less time ahead than behind, so I want to untie the knot. My mother is my strongest ally…my eternal supporter." Jun Hyun-moo asked, "She's your eternal supporter but there is a knot?" expressing curiosity about Lim Hyung-joo's mother-son relationship.
Now in his 29th year since debut, Lim Hyung-joo holds many records, including being the youngest to debut at Carnegie Hall and the first Korean to receive the U.N. Peace Medal. In addition, he has performed in front of as many as 11 presidents. Lim Hyung-joo surprised everyone by saying, "I've seen all of them except Presidents Rhee Syng-man, Park Chung-hee and Yun Po-sun." Behind Lim Hyung-joo's shining performances stood his mother, Helen Kim, who is also the head of his agency. Helen Kim served as the overall director of Lim Hyung-joo's performances, leading the on-site direction and meticulously handling costumes and props. Before the recording, Lim Hyung-joo's mother had already appeared at the studio in an all-black look, her charisma putting Jun Hyun-moo, Han Hye-jin and even Hyun Joo-yup on edge. Described as having "legendary charisma," Lim Hyung-joo's mother boasted, "On stage Lim Hyung-joo is a 'prince,' so I pay attention even to the smallest things. If I weren't his mother, there wouldn't be this producer, and there wouldn't be Lim Hyung-joo," showcasing her resolute side.
Lim Hyung-joo's roughly 400-pyeong four-story mansion was also revealed. With a popera-dedicated performance hall and a museum-level room filled with medals and awards, the country's first popera house made Jun Hyun-moo say, "It's better than the studio. Let's record there," expressing envy. Moreover, when he heard that built-in humidifiers were installed from the design stage to manage Lim Hyung-joo's vocal cords, Jun Hyun-moo said, "I've been looking at warm-mist humidifiers and now I feel really shabby," surprised at Lim Hyung-joo's home, which is "another class" even in vocal care. One afternoon when he woke late in this house, Lim Hyung-joo pushed all his hair back with a favorite headband and appeared with a shocking bare face, unlike his glamorous stage appearance. Planning to do laundry on his day off, Lim Hyung-joo took the elevator to the fourth floor, which turned out to be his mother's home.
Although his mother had prepared a hearty meal for her son Lim Hyung-joo, the two bickered from the moment they met. When Lim Hyung-joo's mother snapped, "Go wash your hair and come," Lim Hyung-joo sulked, "It's inside the house, I'm not going to wash it." Also, beside his mother who was cooking, the 'neat freak' Lim Hyung-joo pointed out dust on the table mat. He continued to show obsessive cleanliness, wiping and re-wiping while checking stains on the kitchen wall and dining table.
Lim Hyung-joo's mother accused her son of being a clean freak, saying, "He notices even the smallest speck. He uses so much alcohol that his hands are peeling." When she continued nagging as she peeled an apple, the mother finally exploded, "Oh, be quiet!" The mother's counter-nagging also began. Lim Hyung-joo's mother brought out a sharp-looking three-year-old magazine, saying, "Don't smack while you eat. Lose some weight," and pressured her son. Lim Hyung-joo shot back, "That person is dead. It's just age weight. Now that I'm not laughed at for gaining weight, I'm excited," not backing down. Lim Hyung-joo's mother retorted, "Our family isn't like that, only you are," seemingly drawing a line between 'our family' and eldest son Lim Hyung-joo.
Ultimately, the eldest son among three sons and one daughter, Lim Hyung-joo, vented his frustration about a mother who is affectionate toward his third sibling 'Richard,' who is 16 years younger than him, yet stingy with him. Lim Hyung-joo's mother openly compared Lim Hyung-joo, saying, "If it were our Richard (third son)...," showing a stark contrast in warmth. Responding, Lim Hyung-joo said, "I get jealous and feel hurt sometimes. I'm not resentful toward my younger siblings. As for the third and fourth, the way Mom treats them… that kind of life I give up on in this life," evoking sympathy.
In particular, Lim Hyung-joo expressed hurt that unlike other mothers, his did not accompany him to events from middle school entrance exams to national ceremonies, except for his solo concerts. Lim Hyung-joo recalled, "She only comes if I ask her to. Even if there was work, my mother wouldn't even show her face, so there were rumors I was an orphan. Because I couldn't get recognition from my mother, I became more obsessive about getting recognition from others." He added, "I wish she would give me even one-third of the attention Richard gets. I wish she'd praise me gently and coo at me," expressing his wish. In the meantime, the youngest of the three brothers, Hyun Joo-yup, said, "My parents came to every game during my school years," and MC Han Hye-jin, the youngest of three sisters, said, "I received the most love," confirming she grew up as the 'male-female Richard (?)' and leaving Lim Hyung-joo frustrated.
Lim Hyung-joo's mother, who introduced an unprecedented, unforgettable character, admitted, "I think I'm more peculiar than other mothers," acknowledging her 'difference.' She continued, "Art-world mothers usually mobilize the whole family, but I didn't do everything because I wanted them to see a bigger world rather than being first in a well. I thought praise and encouragement might make them settle there. I raised my children saying, 'Do it yourself,' to foster independence," explaining it was for her son's self-reliance. But Lim Hyung-joo still harbored lingering disappointment.
Meanwhile, next episode previews show a clash between the agency head mother and artist son Lim Hyung-joo as they prepare for a performance. Lim Hyung-joo told his mother, "Maybe family or mothers think standing on stage looks easy. There are still times when I'm afraid of the stage. I feel so anxious, like being led to the slaughterhouse," expressing his hurt. Lim Hyung-joo's mother instead criticized him, saying, "You find that position bothersome. This attitude isn't professional." Interest is focused on whether the very different-thinking mother and son will be able to unravel their tangled knots like a skein in the future.
'Dad and I season 3' airs every Wednesday at 10 p.m.
[Photo] 'Dad and I'
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