On the April 1st episode of TV CHOSUN's 'Dad and Me' (literal title), Park Han-byul made her return to television after a six-year hiatus, appearing alongside her father, a former soccer coach. The show featured their life in Jeju Island, where they have been living away from the mainland, and shared the struggles they endured over the past six years.
In 2019, Park Han-byul's husband was implicated in the Burning Sun scandal, prompting her to step away from the public eye and live in seclusion in Jeju Island. Her father, who was concerned about the impact on her daughter, described the experience as "emerging from a long tunnel." He recounted his struggles with depression and social anxiety, saying, "I couldn't sleep for days, didn't feel like eating, and wandered around the hills behind our house at 2 or 3 in the morning like a madman." Park Han-byul recalled, "My dad was really struggling. He would drink every night and call me, just sighing deeply. Even without words, I could feel his pain through his breathing."
Park Han-byul shared that during 2019, all her advertising deals and casting opportunities fell through, and strangers would come to her house where she lived alone with her child, making "every day feel like hell." She received numerous suggestions to divorce, even from her mother-in-law, who tearfully advised her to leave for her own sake.
However, Park Han-byul tearfully explained, "My child did nothing wrong, and I couldn't take away their family. As a mother, I made the best decision." She added, "I prioritized my family because even if my children don't understand now, they will surely appreciate it when they grow up." Lee Seung-yeon, who was present, empathized deeply, saying, "The thoughts that come with raising a child are similar. Living well and setting an example is a mother's role."
Finally, Park Han-byul admitted that she has few memories from the two to three years following the incident, saying, "It was so painful that my brain seems to have erased it." She added, "Recalling it on the show after such a long time brought tears I couldn't hold back."
[Photo= TV CHOSUN 'Dad and Me']
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)