Girls' Generation (소녀시대) member Kwon Yu-ri (권유리), known mononymously as Yuri, recently made a rare public comment about her past relationships on a television program. She unexpectedly addressed her former boyfriends, saying, "Be happy, I'm sorry," a sincere confession that has since garnered significant attention.
Yuri appeared on KBS 2TV's Happy Together, which featured singer-songwriter Lee Chae-eun (이채은) and her ex-boyfriend Oh Yoon-ki (오윤기). The pair had dated for eight years before officially breaking up in December of last year. During the recording, Lee Chae-eun openly revealed that she now has a new boyfriend, a disclosure that instantly energized the studio atmosphere.
Lee Chae-eun explained that she appeared on the show with the support of her current boyfriend and that she had personally invited her ex-boyfriend, Oh Yoon-ki, to join her. She clarified that beyond their romantic history, they had also worked together on music for a long time. "Considering our team, I couldn't think of anyone else besides him," she stated.
Oh Yoon-ki revealed that throughout their years together, he was aware of Lee Chae-eun's dream of becoming a singer, but she often gave up before trying due to stage fright. Seeing her finally overcome her fears and bravely step onto the stage, he felt compelled to offer his support in every way possible. He also admitted that Lee Chae-eun had been a source of musical inspiration for him in the past.
In contrast to Lee Chae-eun, who has embarked on a new relationship, Oh Yoon-ki confessed that he is currently single and still processing his emotions after the breakup. On the show, he personally accompanied Lee Chae-eun's performance, hoping this collaboration would bring a complete closure to their past.
As Lee Chae-eun performed "You Are My 20s," Oh Yoon-ki accompanied her on an instrument. The atmosphere was deeply moving, especially when lyrics like "You must be happy" were sung. The two shared heartfelt glances, conveying genuine blessings for each other, moving even hosts like Yoo Jae-suk (유재석). The warm gazes exchanged between the former couple added a poignant touch to the entire performance.
Witnessing their performance, Yuri was also transported back to her own youth by the song. She commented, "It's truly difficult for a song to take someone back to their 20s, and it's something all singers aspire to achieve."
Unexpectedly, Yuri then revealed that while listening to the song, she unconsciously revisited her 20s and recalled ex-boyfriends whom she had "mistreated" or not treated well. "I unconsciously went back to my 20s and started thinking about those ex-boyfriends I didn't treat well. I couldn't help but think, 'You must be happy,' and 'I'm sorry,'" Yuri shared. She concluded by thanking the two for their performance: "Thank you for taking me to such a deep place."
While Yuri did not disclose the identities of her ex-partners, her rare confession quickly sparked discussion. Netizens recalled Super Junior (슈퍼주니어) member Kim Hee-chul (김희철) previously stating that Yuri maintained good relationships with her ex-boyfriends even after breaking up. Yuri's recent admission of "mistreating ex-partners" seems to contradict Hee-chul's past remarks, leading many netizens to wonder what exactly transpired in her past relationships that still causes her such guilt.
