South Korean actress Jo Yoon-hee (조윤희) has been raising her daughter, Roa, alone since her divorce from actor Lee Dong-gun (이동건). She recently appeared on fellow actress Hwang Jung-eum's (황정음) YouTube channel to share her parenting experiences, unexpectedly revealing her daughter's delicate and sensitive nature. Jo Yoon-hee admitted that her daughter is very emotional, making a mother's tone of voice crucial. Actress Shim Yi-young (심이영), who was also present, echoed this sentiment, revealing that if she raises her voice even slightly, her daughters immediately ask, "Mommy, are you angry? Do you hate me?" highlighting the differences in raising daughters versus sons.
On the 17th, Hwang Jung-eum uploaded a new video to her personal YouTube channel titled "Daughter Mom vs. Son Mom, Completely Different Parenting Realities." Hwang, who has two sons, specifically invited Jo, who raises a daughter alone, and Shim, who has two daughters, to discuss the daily joys and challenges of raising daughters.
Discussing parenting, Hwang first talked about her busy schedule caring for her two sons, then curiously asked, "I heard raising daughters involves emotional challenges. What's it really like?" This question directly addressed the differences in emotional expression between children of different genders, quickly sparking a lively conversation.
In response, Jo stated that her daughter is very emotional and sensitive, making a mother's tone of voice incredibly important. She explained that because children are particularly attuned to emotional changes, even a slight difference in tone can be noticed by her daughter, requiring her to be more mindful of how she speaks during everyday communication.
Shim immediately nodded in agreement, sharing her own parenting experience: "If I raise my voice even a little, they'll ask, 'Mommy, are you angry? Do you hate me? Does Mommy not like me anymore?'" She explained that her daughters sometimes start to wonder if they've done something wrong just because their mother's tone of voice is slightly different from usual, forcing her to constantly monitor her emotional expression.
Jo then shared her daughter Roa's reaction, laughing, "My daughter Roa asks me, 'Mommy, are you feeling unwell?'" This remark showcased her daughter's keen observation skills, not only noticing her mother's tone but also actively inquiring about her mother's physical condition, creating a heartwarming atmosphere on set.
In contrast to the constant need to mind one's tone when raising daughters, Hwang vented her frustrations about raising sons. She helplessly stated, "It's really too different; my sons just don't listen, and it's as if their ears are deaf!" She gave an example: even if she claps her hands and raises her voice, shouting, "Wang-shik! Mommy needs to talk to you now!" her son still won't even look at her, making the guests burst into laughter.
This conversation resonated with the everyday parenting experiences of different families. From daughters repeatedly checking if they are disliked due to a change in their mother's tone, to sons remaining unresponsive after being called multiple times, these two distinct interaction styles left the mothers with endless stories of both hardship and humor.
Recalling Jo Yoon-hee and Lee Dong-gun's marriage, the two met and fell in love while working on the KBS drama The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop. They married in 2017 and had a daughter. However, their marriage lasted only about three years, with the couple announcing their divorce in 2020. After the divorce, their daughter has primarily been raised by Jo, who continues her acting career, striving to balance work and parenting. Her sharing of moments with her daughter on the show offered a glimpse into her careful observation of her child's emotions and feelings in her single-parenting life.
Furthermore, Lee Dong-gun, now 45, has had a notably extensive dating history throughout his 30-year career. Besides his ex-wife Jo Yoon-hee, he has had six publicly known relationships. His frequent change of girlfriends earned him the nickname "Playboy King," with some jokingly saying he changes girlfriends with every drama he stars in. Five years after his divorce, in May of last year, rumors of a romance with actress Kang Hae-rim (강해림), 16 years his junior, surfaced. The two were reportedly seen openly dating on the streets with little attempt to hide, intimately strolling together and even photographed enjoying a leisurely coffee date. There were even reports that Lee had introduced Kang as his girlfriend to acquaintances, causing the relationship rumors to briefly become a hot topic.
