Yoo Ji-tae, the husband of actress Kim Hyo-jin and an acclaimed actor himself, recently shed tears while reminiscing about his mother, a former Miss Korea and nurse.
On the October 25th episode of tvN's variety show 'You Quiz on the Block' (Episode 336), Yoo Ji-tae appeared as a guest. He was recently recognized for his contributions to child education and housing improvement, an interest he attributes to his upbringing. "I lost my father early and was raised by my single mother, which gave me a certain understanding," he shared. "If I can't take full responsibility, I believe a system is necessary, and I hope it will be established."
Yoo Ji-tae is currently helping his mother run a nursing home, fulfilling her dream. "My mother's dream was to operate a nursing home. Having been raised by a single mother, I want to take responsibility for her until the end," he expressed.
Yoo Ji-tae became emotional when discussing his mother's 40-year career as a nurse, describing her as "a strong person." Overcome with emotion, he asked for a brief pause in filming, saying, "I'm sorry, may I take a moment?"
After composing himself, Yoo Ji-tae returned to explain, "I think it's because my mother is getting older." He likened her to "silver grass," recalling the hardships they faced when he was young. "My mother was like silver grass. She raised me on a nurse's salary, leaving a lasting impression on me," he explained.
His mother also influenced his filmmaking. "In all my films, women are the protagonists. I admire strong female characters and aspire to direct such films," he revealed.
It was also revealed that Yoo Ji-tae's mother was a former Miss Korea contestant. "My mother was truly beautiful. I heard she competed in the Daegu Miss Korea pageant. Because of her beauty, men would follow her around, and as a child, I would chase them away with a stick," he recalled.
By Taeyuna, TenAsia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr