Born in 1986, Korean singer Lim Hyung-joo recently revealed his experience of being a fraud victim.
On the October 25th episode of TV Chosun's variety show 'Dad and Me Season 3,' Lim Hyung-joo acknowledged the loving relationship with his mother, moving past their previous 'love-hate' dynamic.
During the episode, Lim, who was appointed as the first chairman of the Yongsan Cultural Foundation, was visited by family friend and writer Yoo In-kyung to congratulate him. Before Yoo's arrival, Lim's mother, Helen Kim, prepared a gift of homemade kimchi. Lim humorously appeared in a 'protective suit' to avoid getting chili powder on himself, causing laughter. Known for his tidiness, Lim nervously watched his mother, worried about the mess, and overreacted when a speck of chili powder landed on his suit. Helen Kim playfully threatened to smear chili powder on his face, leading to a lighthearted exchange. Model Han Hye-jin commented, "This bickering seems more exhausting than house chores."
During a meal, Yoo In-kyung asked Helen Kim how she congratulated her son. Kim replied nonchalantly, "I just drove him home after the appointment ceremony." Yoo questioned, "Is that really a celebration?" Lim expressed his disappointment, saying, "Even if the world acknowledges me, I don't feel recognized at home. If my mom acknowledged me even a little, I wouldn't need to seek validation elsewhere."
Lim further confessed, "I tend to fall for compliments easily, even from strangers. I've lost about 80 million won due to scams because of this 'praise deficiency.'" Helen Kim acknowledged her son's need for praise, joking, "If you lock him up and shower him with compliments, he'd give away everything." Yoo In-kyung pointed out, "He seeks validation from others because he feels rejected by his mother."
Yoo also advised Lim, "If your mom praises you too much, you might take it for granted and feel hurt when she doesn't. When my mom passed away, I missed having someone to praise me. You won't feel that loss."
Lim, visibly emotional, admitted, "I realized that only my mom can scold me," tearing up. Helen Kim was taken aback by her son's tears, while Yoo comforted him, saying, "Only a mom can both scold and praise you." Yoo revealed, "Your mom boasts about you when you're not around. You don't see her proud expressions during your concerts."
During Lim's solo concert, Helen Kim was seen smiling proudly from backstage and later praised her son's performance to the audience.
Yoo advised, "If she didn't love you, she wouldn't have done everything she has. Don't doubt her love. And Helen, you should practice saying 'I love you, Hyung-joo.'" Helen Kim, moved by her son's tears, admitted, "I regret not praising him enough. I'm the reason he cried."
Helen Kim also reflected, "Hyung-joo once said in an interview that he learned not to make mistakes at an age when he should have. It struck me deeply. I realized I pushed him into the world too soon, expecting him to stand alone." Lim shared a touching moment, "During the COVID-19 pandemic, when I was very ill, I overheard my mom holding my hand and saying, 'You're my pillar, please recover soon.' That moment healed my past wounds."
Lim concluded, "My mother may struggle to express it, but her love for me has always been constant," realizing that their relationship was rooted in love rather than conflict.
Tae Yuna, TenAsia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr