In "Save Me Holmes," Choo Sung Hoon candidly revealed his difficult childhood and the circumstances that led him to take up judo.
On the broadcast of MBC's variety show "Save Me Holmes" on the 22nd, Choo Sung Hoon, who is from Osaka, Japan, personally visited his hometown. He went to the neighborhood where he was born and raised 45 years ago, near Ikonogu Koreatown.
Choo Sung Hoon introduced the area where he spent his childhood, saying it is a place where many Zainichi Koreans live. He expressed deep feelings as he saw the kindergarten he attended 50 years ago still standing, commenting, "It brings me back to my roots; memories are my motivation."
He also disclosed that he almost became a baseball player in his childhood. Choo Sung Hoon noted, "I practiced a bit, but we didn't have money at home to buy baseball equipment," which ultimately led him to choose judo, a sport that required no equipment. He shared a realistic reason, saying, "I could only afford a judo uniform, so I started judo," which evoked sympathy.
He candidly shared about his family's difficult circumstances at that time. "We didn't have a bathroom at home, so we went to the public bath every day. I thought it was normal not to have a shower," he recalled. He added, "My mother worked at a bar at night in Japan, where communication was difficult. She worked hard for our family," which brought a sense of emotion. He remarked, "I am who I am today because of those hungry times. My sensitivity about money stems from that background."
After visiting the site of his childhood home, Choo Sung Hoon could not hide his bitterness upon finding that the place has turned into an empty lot. The home was demolished a month ago, and after hearing this, he visited the site himself and shared the last appearance of his childhood home on social media.
Choo Sung Hoon revealed his emptiness, saying, "There’s no place to return to my roots." The space that held his childhood dreams, hardships, and dedication to his family became a memory.
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