An unexpected turn of events occurred when Hyun Joo-yeop's son, Hyun Jun-hee, ran away from home.
On the October 25th episode of TV Chosun's variety show 'Dad and Me Season 3', Hyun Joo-yeop was tidying up his son's room during his brief absence. While doing so, he discovered a four-cut photo of Jun-hee with his 'first love noona' and a rabbit keychain. To make matters worse, he accidentally damaged a model kit. Upon returning home and seeing his father in his room, Jun-hee was furious, exclaiming, "Why did you touch it? It's very precious to me. It's a couple item with noona. I told you not to touch the limited edition model because it's expensive."
Unable to control his emotions, Jun-hee removed his microphone and refused to continue filming, ultimately running away. Unaware of the reason behind his son's anger, Hyun Joo-yeop received advice from Jeon Hyun-moo, who shared, "I was sensitive at Jun-hee's age too. Personal belongings were fine, but issues involving the opposite sex were significant. Parents would talk for hours about a simple sticker photo with a female friend, asking 'Who is she?' and 'Does she study well?'"
Alarmed, Hyun Joo-yeop set out to find his son, but Jun-hee remained firm, stating, "I won't go back until Dad admits he was wrong." Despite his efforts, Hyun Joo-yeop couldn't comprehend his son's anger. Eventually, Jun-hee expressed his frustration, "Why do you enter my room without permission? Did you like it when grandma barged into your room when you were young?" Concerned about the cold weather, Hyun Joo-yeop managed to persuade his son to return home.
Jun-hee voiced his dissatisfaction, saying, "Sometimes I want to lock the door and be alone, but there's no doorknob, so I have no privacy." Jeon Hyun-moo was shocked, commenting, "It's like the room isn't his own space anymore. It's as if the door has been removed." Due to past health concerns that led to Jun-hee's hospitalization, Hyun Joo-yeop had removed the doorknob. He promised to respect Jun-hee's privacy in exchange for him tidying up his room.
Amidst the situation, Hyun Joo-yeop inquired about Jun-hee's 'first love noona', asking, "You said you were dumped last time, so are you just flirting now, or are you dating? Why do you keep saying you're in a relationship?" Jun-hee humorously retorted, "Let me at least feel like I'm dating," eliciting laughter. To help his son navigate the complexities of dating, Hyun Joo-yeop confidently offered his advice, saying, "I know a lot about dating. I'm just pretending not to." The father-son duo bonded over relationship talks, and Han Hye-jin remarked, "In the past, he would confide in Uncle Ahn Jung-hwan or Chef Song Hoon, but now he talks to his dad. It's amazing to see how their relationship has changed."
Later, Hyun Joo-yeop, who takes psychiatric medication for sleep issues, took a nap in the living room after their conversation. As Jun-hee passed by, he silently observed his father, turned off the lights, and covered him with a coat before returning to his room. Jun-hee shared, "I've never seen him nap before. I realized he must have been really tired today." Watching the VCR of his son's caring gesture for the first time, Hyun Joo-yeop was moved, saying, "I felt that he really cares about me."
By Tae Yuna, TenAsia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr