In a touching finale, Jung Hyung-don offers a surprise 'venting corner' for the 'Dropoutz' boarders on 'Jung Sung-jae's Boarding House'.
Airing at 8 PM on the 28th, the final episode of the tcast E Channel variety show 'Life's a Struggle: Jung Sung-jae's Boarding House' (hereafter 'Jung Sung-jae's Boarding House') features Jung Sung-jae, Jung Hyung-don, and Han Sun-hwa visiting the high school attended by the 'oldest boarder', 67-year-old Kim Young-sook, to share heartfelt stories.
On this day, the 'boarding house family' embarks on a night walk to Kim Young-sook's high school. Entering an empty classroom, they each take a seat, reminiscing about their school days. Jung Hyung-don asks the dropout boarders, averaging 17.7 years old, "It's been a while since you've been to school, right? How about we take this opportunity to say whatever's on your mind?"
With the declaration of 'Open Your Heart at the Boarding House', the youngest, Kim Ria, steps up to the chalkboard. She begins hesitantly, "I crumbled because of you (school)..." and shares painful memories from her school days. She then murmurs to the school, "You could have helped me," leaving everyone emotional. After hearing her story, Jung Hyung-don offers heartfelt comfort, saying, "It feels like listening to my daughters. As a father, I feel so guilty. I'm sorry to Ria as an adult, and it makes me think a lot."
Jung Sung-jae also stands at the podium to share his thoughts with the boarders. However, he is overcome with emotion and tears up before he can speak, causing everyone to feel moved. Wiping his tears with tissues, he says, "It's because I'm getting old. I don't think I can do this. I'm crying," feeling embarrassed. Jung Hyung-don lightens the mood by joking, "That's a classic symptom of menopause." Regaining his composure, Jung Sung-jae expresses, "Every time I hear each of your stories, I feel overwhelmed with thoughts... I'm sorry. I feel so inadequate." He adds, "Not being able to keep up with math, it's not such a big deal," apologizing for his past behavior of pressuring the students.
As a final event for the boarders before they leave, Jung Sung-jae proposes, "I'll take your ID photos." He promises to personally take their first ID photos at 'Sung-jae's Studio' as they approach adulthood. The anticipation builds to see the reactions to the first ID photos taken by 'Jung Photo' Jung Sung-jae.
The untold stories of the 'average 17.7-year-old Dropoutz' boarders and the final chapter at Jung Sung-jae's Boarding House can be seen on the E Channel at 8 PM on the 28th.
Meanwhile, Jung Hyung-don married former broadcast writer Han Yoo-ra in 2009, and they had twin daughters in 2012. His wife and daughters are currently residing in Hawaii for educational purposes, while Jung Hyung-don commutes between Korea and Hawaii, living as a 'goose father'.
Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr