In the 8th episode of MBN's entertainment program 'Adults Don't Know High School Dad 3' (hereinafter referred to as 'High School Dad 3'), which aired on the 8th, Lee Song-i and Lee Ji-seop, who became a high school mother at the age of 19 and a father of a high school student at the age of 20, appeared as a couple with their three sons. Not only did they reveal their real-life parenting routine together, but they also spoke candidly about their situation in an economic crisis.
First, the story of how Lee Song-i and Lee Ji-seop became 'high school dads' was told in a reenactment drama. After Lee Song-i, who had a playful personality, broke up with her ex-boyfriend, she fell in love with her boyfriend's best friend, Lee Ji-seop, after a long relationship. After three months of dating, she became pregnant, but Song Song gave up the child due to her mother's strong opposition and emotional stress. Afterwards, Song Yi, who devoted herself to her studies, faced the news of another pregnancy during her senior year of high school. They pledged to “take responsibility for the child” and were kicked out of the house. Song-yeon stayed at her father’s house and gave birth to her son, Seo-jun. The reenactment drama ended with them fighting fiercely and facing a crisis when the child was 100 days old.
Lee Song-i and Lee Ji-seop then appeared together in the studio. Those who said, “After the situation in the reenactment drama, we each lived separately,” shook the studio with their shocking statement, “We are currently preparing to break up.” In the daily camera footage released, they were reunited and living in a house with the help of Lee Ji-seop's father. Above all, they have three sons, including their first son, 5-year-old Seojun, as well as their younger brother, Seojin, and their third son, Seoho, who is 8 months old, so the MC corps continued to dissuade them, saying, “We shouldn’t break up.”
The couple, who met each other after sending their children to school, sighed at their serious household deficit, saying, “The emergency livelihood support fund has expired, so we have a minus of 1 million won this month alone.” Moreover, they had to deal with the treatment of Seojun, whose development was slower than his peers, and the surgery of Seoho, who was diagnosed with a cleft palate shortly after birth. Lee Song-i, who had washed her face in a difficult situation, aroused curiosity with a meaningful remark, “We might be separated in 5 months.” Regarding this, Lee Ji-seop shocked the public by saying in an interview with the production team, "The reason for our breakup was the military," and "I received a notice to enlist in active duty and am scheduled to enlist in 5 months."
Song Lee then visited the Administrative Welfare Center and asked if there was another way to provide support. However, the clear answer came back saying, “If your husband enlists in the military, the existing benefits for parents of teenagers will be suspended,” making Lee Song even more frustrated. When Lee Song-i, who was in a 'mental breakdown', was struggling to raise her three children alone after sending them home, Lee Ji-seop, who secretly left home, was preoccupied with drinking with friends.
In addition, Lee Ji-seop even brought late-night drinking friends home without consent, causing Lee Song-i to explode with anger. After their friends returned, they raised their voices and argued, but to Song Yi, who was worried about her immediate livelihood, Lee Ji-seop confidently said, “I have applied for the first time to receive a reduction in military service due to difficulties in making a living, and only the second application remains.” It seemed.
However, the next day, a 'big twist' unfolded when Lee Ji-seop called the Military Manpower Administration to inquire at Song Yi's urging, "Make sure you submitted the documents properly." The response that came back was, “Your application was not properly submitted because you missed the second document submission period.” In the end, Lee Ji-seop gave up, and Song Yi, whose anger reached its peak, left the house, leaving child care to Lee Ji-seop. While Ji-seop Lee of 'The Last Words' was physically playing with the children, Song-yi Lee met a friend and confessed her concern that "it's not easy to get a job because I don't have a high school diploma." Immediately after, Lee Song-i went to the bookstore and bought a book for the GED, then returned home and declared, “I will take the GED,” receiving applause from the studio.
The couple had a passionate reconciliation by posting a memorandum on the wall that they must keep to each other. In an interview with the production team, Lee Song-yi showed off her 'foolish husband' side by saying, "My husband is so handsome that I get angry just by looking at his face," and Lee Ji-seop promised, "I will properly prepare the military service exemption documents and submit them quickly." The next day, Lee Ji-seop went to the human resources office early in the morning and started looking for work more actively. He pledged, “If my military-related documents are resolved well and I am exempted, I will work harder and show a different side of myself for my family.”
‘High School Mom 3’ airs every Wednesday at 10:20 PM.
Taeyuna, Ten Asia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr