The 'youthful update' of actor Bae Yong-joon's wife, actress Park Soo-jin, is gaining attention.
On the 11th's broadcast of SBS Plus and E Channel's entertainment program 'Solo', Hwang Jung-eum was seen enjoying a 'fiery New Year's party' with Sugar members Ayumi and Yook Hye-seung (Han Ye-won).
Hwang Jung-eum said, "The fact that we're together for 23 years is significant. It is very grateful to have a friend with whom I can share memories. There was a touch of emotion at being able to gather immediately when I call." Ayumi expressed her disappointment, stating, "It would have been nice if Soo-jin was here too. She's overseas," revealing that it was not a full gathering. Hwang Jung-eum shared, "Soo-jin is living well while raising kids in Hawaii," drawing attention to Park Soo-jin's update.
Hwang Jung-eum continued, "I went to Hawaii this time and saw (Soo-jin) and she looks like a high school student. She's living so well. She's just a beautiful mom. Let's meet when she comes to Korea," further indicating how much the members missed Park Soo-jin. Ayumi, who was watching the three members passionately sing in the video, remarked, "I feel teary. We gathered to sing after 20 years, and it brings back memories. While singing, when I saw the members, their old faces appeared. I felt a bit emotional. I thought it was great to be together, despite the happy and difficult times we experienced," expressing her heartfelt emotions.
In February, updates on Bae Yong-joon, who is living in Hawaii for his children's education, were shared.
Yonsei University Medical Center announced last December that Bae Yong-joon donated 3 billion won for the development of the medical center and support for low-income youth and infants.
Bae Yong-joon stated, "Despite the difficult situation in the medical field, I decided to donate with the hope that the medical center will continue to develop and grow as an institution leading future medicine."
He added, "I sincerely hope that this donation will serve as a foundation for an innovative future for the medical center and contribute to creating a healthy world for all, including low-income youth and infants." This donation will be used for the development of the medical center and for treating low-income youth and infants.
Previously, Bae Yong-joon had announced his donation to a prestigious private school in Hawaii that his children attend. According to the disclosed list, Bae Yong-joon and Park Soo-jin were included in the donor list for amounts between $10,000 and $24,999. It appears they donated approximately 14.4 million won and 36 million won to the school.
Meanwhile, Bae Yong-joon and Park Soo-jin, who married in 2015, welcomed a son in 2016 and a daughter in 2018. Additionally, shortly after the birth of their first son in 2017, allegations arose that they received preferential treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit and postpartum care center, which became a controversy.
At that time, an online community noted that the couple, Park Soo-jin and Bae Yong-joon, brought their parents multiple times to the intensive care unit, where visiting times were limited, and only parents were allowed, as well as that Park Soo-jin's manager brought simple snacks.
Subsequently, rumors spread that the couple used their fame to jump the incubator queue, prompting Park Soo-jin to post a handwritten apology stating, "First, regarding the issue of my manager's accompaniment and food brought in, it was only done up to the areas where it was allowed, and there was no instance of the manager accompanying inside the intensive care unit or bringing in food." She also clarified, "It is true that my parents accompanied me. This was my first birth, and I think my judgment was clouded as it happened a bit early." She apologized and stated, "The rumor regarding the incubator admission sequence is entirely untrue."
Following the controversy, the couple halted their entertainment activities and moved to Hawaii for their children's education.
Additionally, Bae Yong-joon sold his equity in KeyEast, the agency he represented, to SM Entertainment in 2018. In 2022, news broke that Bae Yong-joon's official website had disappeared, leading to speculation about his retirement. In conjunction with this, it was revealed that Park Soo-jin's exclusive contract had already been terminated long ago.
In relation to this, a close associate of Bae Yong-joon stated during the retirement speculation that "Bae Yong-joon is currently residing in Hawaii with his wife, Park Soo-jin, and his siblings," noting that he is focusing on parenting and family life. They added, "Bae Yong-joon is content living quietly with his family in Hawaii," and that "as his acting activities have been on hold for over 10 years, there is currently effectively no manageable website. Though Bae Yong-joon has not explicitly mentioned it, when he transferred his shares in 2018 to SM, it was a beautiful exit from the Korean entertainment industry. In effect, it was akin to retirement."
[Photo] OSEN DB, SNS
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