Actor Lee Bum-soo returned to broadcasting about two months after his divorce and stood before the public again. Even with public support from his ex-wife Lee Yoon-jin, viewer reactions are mixed.
Previously, after about two years of conflict, the two finalized an uncontested divorce on Feb. At that time, Lee Bum-soo's side said, "We resolved mutual misunderstandings and agreed to respect each other as the parents of our children," and Lee Yoon-jin also said, "We will continue our responsibilities as parents together."
In particular, Lee Yoon-jin wrote in a handwritten letter, "Please warmly support Lee Bum-soo's future," and publicly expressed her support, drawing attention.
About two months after that, Lee Bum-soo returned and on the 12th appeared as a new member on the SBS show My Little Old Boy, revealing his daily life living alone and calmly describing his changed routine on the broadcast.
First, scenes of him living alone in the house where he used to live with his family were shown, and the spacious living room and kitchen, left with minimal furniture, created an even more silent atmosphere. He cooked dried pollack soup himself for meals and spent time organizing his children's rooms. Especially, a note found in his son's room that read "Dad, fighting every day!" caught viewers' attention. It was a scene of quietly organizing the space while keeping the traces of the children intact.
At the same time, his somewhat "analog" daily life also became a topic. He was shown going to the bank because he was clumsy with a bank transfer app, and it surprised viewers to learn he had used highways without a Hi-Pass. He said he took basic computer lessons, noting, "I was clumsy with email use and felt inconvenience. It interfered with work, so I decided to learn," showing his determination to change.
After the broadcast, viewer reactions were mixed. Some responded, "Considering the process of (their divorce), it's hard to watch comfortably." On the other hand, positive opinions followed, such as, "It seems he calmly showed his daily life," and, "You can feel his feelings for the children."
His return was made more meaningful by his ex-wife's support, but various interpretations still coexist. The public's mixed views toward Lee Bum-soo's broadcasting activities appear likely to continue for the time being.
[Photo] OSEN DB, My Little Old Boy broadcast screen
[OSEN]