Comedians Lee Young-ja and Jung Sun-hee recently opened up about the reasons behind their long period of silence.
The two revealed that it wasn't due to any conflict but rather the painful memories and wounds they each had to bear, which naturally distanced them.
In a recent episode of the tvN STORY variety show 'What to Do with the Leftovers,' Jung Sun-hee appeared as a guest and sat down with host Lee Young-ja.
During the broadcast, they shared, "It's been seven years since we've had a meal together," and discussed the stories they hadn't been able to share. Jung Sun-hee recalled, "It was an unspoken survival on our own."
She continued, "We both went through such painful experiences that just seeing each other brought back those memories," adding, "It was hard to keep mentioning it, and facing each other wasn't easy, so we naturally drifted apart."
Lee Young-ja shared similar sentiments, saying, "Even now, I have trauma when I think about that time," and "I couldn't reach out because meeting would bring back those thoughts." They also confessed to having moments of hurt feelings over trivial matters in the past.
Jung Sun-hee admitted, "There was a time I should have sided with her, but I spoke too coldly," and "For the first time, I argued with her and hung up the phone, and my hands were shaking." Lee Young-ja humorously added, "I even stopped eating soy sauce marinated crab then," and they both laughed as they reminisced.
The two reconnected when Jung Sun-hee announced her marriage. Jung Sun-hee shared, "When I announced my marriage, she reached out, and we started talking again." During the broadcast, Jung Sun-hee also spoke about the time following the passing of her husband, the late Ahn Jae-hwan, in 2008.
She said, "I thought my life was over," and "I thought Jung Sun-hee couldn't live in Korea anymore." She added, "Losing a husband not through divorce but through death, and being a comedian who brings laughter, was unimaginable."
Jung Sun-hee described her state at the time, saying, "I was going back and forth to the funeral home, getting injections, regaining consciousness, and then collapsing again, to the point of speaking nonsense." She also shared, "I had dreams for three years of lying on an autopsy table with people holding scalpels walking towards me, and I kept dreaming of being buried alive."
She mentioned the support she received from those around her, particularly Lee Kyung-sil, saying, "Having experienced hardships herself, she seemed to understand the aftermath," and "She was the only one at the funeral who said, 'Now the tougher times will begin.'"
She continued, "Instead of just comforting me, she told me to 'stay alert,' and at the time, it felt like a slap in the face, but looking back, she was right."
She added, "Every morning, she would ask, 'Did you see that?' constantly bringing me back to reality," and "At the time, it felt overwhelming, but as time passed, I understood her words."
Jung Sun-hee expressed gratitude for her colleagues, including Lee Kyung-sil and Kim Young-chul, saying, "When I thought living a normal life was over, she treated me normally, and that was a great strength for me."
After enduring in their own ways for so long, the two sat down together again to talk. Jung Sun-hee said, "I've always supported you from afar," and Lee Young-ja nodded in agreement. Jung Sun-hee concluded, "Now, we're back to being comfortable with each other."
Reporter Na-yeon Cho, Ten Asia nybluebook@tenasia.co.kr