South Korean comedian Seong Hyeon-ju (성현주), 42, married an entrepreneur six years her senior in 2011. The couple later welcomed a son, but their family's happiness was shattered in 2020 when their son, Seo Hoo, passed away from sepsis at age 8, plunging the family into immense grief. Seong recently appeared on the variety show “Shin Dong-yeop's Zzanbro,” where she spoke about her late son, revealing that he had spent approximately 1,000 days in the intensive care unit and never regained consciousness before his death.
On the 5th, the YouTube channel “Shin Dong-yeop's Zzanbro” released its latest episode featuring Seong Hyeon-ju sharing her life story. Host Shin Dong-yeop also mentioned her recent joy of welcoming a daughter, prompting Seong to speak once more about the loss of her eldest son.
Seong Hyeon-ju revealed that she gave birth to her first child in 2014. However, at age 5, her son suffered an accident and subsequently lived in the intensive care unit for an extended period until his passing at age 8. “He stayed in the ICU for 1,000 days, and I took care of him the whole time, but he never regained consciousness,” she recounted, her brief words encapsulating the difficult years she spent by her child's side.
She also recalled that her son passed away on Christmas Day. The journey from the hospital room to the funeral home was short, and upon arrival, she personally closed her child's eyes for the last time. As she turned around, she witnessed a scene that remains unforgettable to this day. “All my colleagues from my 22nd class were there, waiting.” Seong Hyeon-ju stated that her fellow comedians arrived that day, all dressed in black padded jackets, silently accompanying her through the farewell ceremony. They said little but offered her the greatest support through their actions.
What touched her most was that at 6:30 AM on the day of the funeral procession, all her colleagues were present again, silently standing by to bid farewell to her child. “I saw them standing there from the window, and at that moment, I thought that I would slowly repay this kindness throughout my life.”
Reflecting on this low point in her life, Seong Hyeon-ju admitted that perhaps she hadn't enjoyed the wealth and fame often associated with being a comedian. However, meeting this group of colleagues who supported her through everything made her feel that “becoming a comedian was truly worthwhile.”
Now, Seong Hyeon-ju has welcomed a daughter and, on the show, shared this pain she had kept hidden in her heart for many years. Speaking of her late son, she did not overemphasize her sorrow but instead cherished the camaraderie of her colleagues, who stood by her, as the most precious gift in her life.
