Celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary, actress Yoon Yoo-sun and her husband, former judge and current lawyer Lee Sung-ho, revealed they once faced a separation crisis.
The couple made their first joint appearance on a variety show in 25 years of marriage on SBS's 'Same Bed, Different Dreams 2' (hereafter 'Same Bed 2'), which saw a rise in viewership ratings after moving to a Tuesday slot.
According to Nielsen Korea, the episode aired on the 3rd of the month, achieving a 1.3% rating among viewers aged 20-49, ranking first in its time slot. It also secured second place among all Tuesday variety shows, following 'Gap', solidifying its presence in SBS's Tuesday night lineup. The metropolitan household rating also rose to 4.5%, with peak ratings reaching 5.4%.
SBS's 'Same Bed 2', now airing on Tuesdays, kicked off with the appearance of a special couple. Actress Yoon Yoo-sun, who has been active since her child actor days and is celebrating her 52nd year in the industry, and Lee Sung-ho, known for his involvement in high-profile cases like the 'Molar Dad Case' and the 'Former Police Chief Sentencing', were the stars. Their first joint variety show appearance in 25 years drew significant attention from viewers.
During their first joint appearance in 25 years, the couple appeared somewhat awkward. Yoon Yoo-sun expressed, "Since getting married, there have been many interview requests, but due to his public office status, we couldn't do them. Being here today feels very awkward, like I'm debuting again." Lee Sung-ho recalled declining interviews even at their wedding, saying, "I couldn't promise to live happily ever after as a legal professional who can't lie." Yoon Yoo-sun humorously responded, "I didn't know that. He's unnecessarily honest," while Lee Sung-ho continued, "I couldn't exactly tell the truth either." Yoon Yoo-sun revealed her unexpected taste for such humor, saying, "I found those stories amusing back then." In the studio, Lee Hyun-yi commented, "You must be well-matched. It could be upsetting from a wife's perspective," while Kim Gura noted Yoon Yoo-sun's candid charm, calling her "the female Kim Gura."
The couple shared that they met through introductions from legal acquaintances. Initially, both declined, but persistent persuasion led to their first meeting. Lee Sung-ho candidly admitted, "She wasn't the type I was looking for. It wasn't love at first sight." However, he was impressed by her sincerity, valuing truthfulness over appearance. Yoon Yoo-sun humorously added, "I don't usually care about looks," and reminisced about her ideal type being "funny and honest," recalling how their brief exchanges were amusing.
The couple also displayed differing perspectives on who fell in love first. Yoon Yoo-sun surprised everyone by revealing that Lee Sung-ho mentioned marriage just a week after meeting. Lee Sung-ho shared their whirlwind romance, saying, "We met every day for 98 days and then got married." Despite his jokes, Yoon Yoo-sun found his provocations endearing, causing laughter in the studio. The MCs remarked, "You two are a perfect match."
When asked if they often bicker, the couple admitted, "We fought a lot," revealing their 'Same Bed, Different Dreams' moments. Yoon Yoo-sun disclosed that her husband often judged their disagreements like a court case. Lee Sung-ho countered, "I thought the guilty party was pretending to be innocent," openly displaying their real-life marital conflicts.
Lee Sung-ho revealed that during their seventh year of marriage, he suggested a separation due to ongoing conflicts. Contrary to his expectations, Yoon Yoo-sun firmly responded, "You can't leave. Just live with it." She recalled his surprised expression and emphasized, "Marriage is a choice we both made. We must take responsibility for our choices." She humorously added, "If you leave in a fit of anger, how do you come back? I made the right call," showcasing a different side from her calm and elegant on-screen image.
In their first joint variety show appearance in 25 years, Yoon Yoo-sun and Lee Sung-ho candidly shared their love story from dating to marriage, capturing attention. Their constant bickering yet evident affection for each other evoked laughter and empathy, showcasing the essence of a long-lasting, well-matched couple.
Reporter: Kim Ji-won, TenAsia bella@tenasia.co.kr