In a heartfelt revelation, former top model Park Young-sun shared her emotional decision to leave her son in the United States following her divorce, stating it was for his well-being.
On the October 11th episode of KBS1's variety show 'Living Together with Hwang Shin-hye,' Park Young-sun, a guest on the show, opened up about her past. Known as a leading model of the 1990s, Park was a star who excelled in commercials, acting, and variety shows. She was particularly famous as the muse of the late fashion designer Andre Kim, known for her iconic 'Chilgapsan Performance,' where she elegantly removed seven layers of clothing. After retiring in 1999, Park moved to the U.S., married a Korean-American in 2004, and had a son the following year. However, she later divorced and returned to Korea in 2014.
Park revealed, "I divorced when my son was 11. He is currently in the U.S." When asked if she often sees her son, she replied, "We talk on the phone. Shortly after the divorce, he once called me crying, saying, 'Dad wants me to go to Korea.'" Her teenage son had called her after being scolded by his father.
Park confessed why she left her son in the U.S. She said, "When I divorced, I considered bringing him to Korea. But when I asked him, he said he preferred being with his friends. I wanted him to be happy, so I made that choice for his happiness. Even now, all that matters is his happiness." She continued, "Before the divorce, my son was my biggest concern. He was my everything, and it was tough. I wondered if growing up with a depressed mother was good for him. I was deeply conflicted."
She added, "If I had followed my emotions, I would have brought him with me. But thinking about him, changing his environment wasn't the best choice. I regret not being able to maintain the marriage for his sake, even though it was hard and depressing. I thought I had to make sacrifices so he wouldn't be too shocked." Despite her decision, she admitted, "Since returning to Korea, I haven't been able to sleep well. I talk casually with others, but when I think of my son, I still cry. My weakness is my child," she said, wiping away tears.
By Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr