In 'Living Abroad,' Lee Hyun showcased overflowing family love.
In the sixth episode of 'Living Abroad,' which aired on the 30th, Lee Hyun requested a customized overseas living guide for children's education. In response, Lee Ji-hye recommended the Philippines as 'the holy land of English education in Asia,' while Jasson suggested Malta, 'the new mecca of language study,' leading to a competition. After careful consideration, Lee Hyun ultimately chose the Philippines, 'the country where both mothers and children are happy,' bringing victory to Lee Ji-hye.
As a 'working mom' raising two sons, Lee Hyun stated, "I want to show my children that the world is vast," adding that a country where they can experience not only English but also a second foreign language, and where they can have various experiences in nature, would be ideal. Jasson noted, "I prepared this with the mindset of sending Jun-bum," while Lee Ji-hye mentioned that "our second child, Eli, likes Lee Hyun's first child, Yoon-seo, and the eldest, Tae-ri, likes the younger, Young-seo," emphasizing the sincerity by even mentioning the potential for family ties.
In a heated atmosphere, Lee Ji-hye summoned 'living guide' Ahn So-hee, who raises her 9-year-old son, Rio, in Cebu, Philippines, to introduce the highly effective local educational environment. It turned out that Cebu, famous as a tourist destination, is also known as a representative educational city in the Philippines. Ahn So-hee stated, "English education fees are cheap, there are no worries about racial discrimination, and childcare and household helpers can be hired at low costs." The private school her son attends is equipped with the latest facilities, including a gym, playground, and health room, with annual tuition of 1.8 to 2.1 million won, significantly lower than the average of 9.18 million won in Korea. Jokingly, Lee Ji-hye asked Kim Sung-joo, who was born in the '70s, "How much was the monthly fee back then?" to which Kim Sung-joo humorously replied, "I paid with cash!" causing everyone to burst into laughter.
During dismissal time, a tutor helped Rio return home instead of the working mom Ahn So-hee, and after arriving home, also provided private tutoring. Ahn So-hee explained, "For a tutor who can speak English, the hourly wage is around 13,000 won for 3 hours, while general childcare helpers cost even less than that." Upon learning that the monthly wage for a housekeeping helper working six days a week is 160,000 won, Lee Hyun nodded, saying, "No wonder the moms who went to the Philippines are all so calm." Furthermore, Rio's personal boxing lesson is priced at 9,000 won per hour, while a personal golf lesson, including the golf course, is 24,000 won, which elicited admiration. With everyone astonished by the unimaginable prices, Lee Ji-hye remarked, "Isn't this reminiscent of the prices during Kim Sung-joo's time?" to which Kim Sung-joo responded, "It was tough during the war," showcasing brilliant banter.
Subsequently, Ahn So-hee visited an international school with a 100-year history, where the discussion and presentation-centered curriculum stood out due to its lack of textbooks or rankings. In particular, the tuition level of 18 million won, which is less than half compared to Korea (40 million won), as well as the system allowing students to choose from over 50 extra-curricular courses by paying only 10,000 won per subject each semester, was astonishing. With Rio enjoying marine activities such as snorkeling, parasailing, and jet skiing on his days off, Ahn So-hee expressed high satisfaction with living in the Philippines as a working mom, emphasizing, "A mother must be happy for the child to be happy."
As Lee Hyun leaned towards the Philippines, Jasson pulled out the Malta card and retaliated. Jasson shared, "While researching, I found myself wanting to go with Jun-bum," calling forth Lee Jun-ho, who raises an 11-year-old and a 7-year-old daughter, as a 'living guide.' Lee Jun-ho first visited the largest private school in Malta, which offers an environment where students can naturally acquire not only English but also a second foreign language, boasting four playgrounds, including a basketball court, tennis court, and a futsal field. Despite being in Europe, the annual tuition of 17 million won was cheaper than in Korea and even the Philippines. That evening, a meeting was arranged with a wealthy local Korean whose son is attending the private school in Malta. They emphasized, "Rent is cheaper than in Canada, and life here is worry-free regarding safety," highly recommending a Maltese lifestyle. Regarding the fact that his son is receiving Juventus Academy soccer education at half the price of a Korean soccer academy, 'soccer enthusiast' Lee Hyun exclaimed, "I want to go!" bringing laughter to the studio.
Being able to enjoy vivid on-site learning in nature was another advantage, with Gozo Island in northern Malta, known as the filming location for the popular overseas series 'Game of Thrones,' retaining the beauty of nature from the famous beach 'Blue Lagoon' to 'Ggantija Temples,' 'Blue Hole,' 'Inland Sea,' and the turtle nesting site 'Ramla Bay.' The annual Gozo Festival, boasting a 500-year history, also draws interest from visitors. Kim Sung-joo, who was captivated by the charm of Malta, stated, "If my wife allows, I would love to go with a few dads and try living there for a month."
Caught between the diverse attractions of the Philippines and Malta, Lee Hyun ultimately chose the Philippines after much deliberation, securing victory for her close friend Lee Ji-hye. Lee Hyun noted, "I believe I can take care of both my children's education and my happiness," garnering unanimous agreement.
‘Living Abroad’ on MBN·MBC Drama Net airs every Wednesday night at 10:20 p.m.
[Photo] Provided
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