On TV CHOSUN's 'Dad and Me Season 3', Kim Jung-tae confirmed his eldest son, known as 'Genius Yakkoong', has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, and the family is determined to overcome the challenges together.
In the episode aired on the 8th, Kim Jung-tae and his wife received the test results for their son, Kim Ji-hoo, who was suspected of having Asperger's Syndrome.
On their way to the hospital, Ji-hoo expressed his fear, saying, “I feel like my heart is breaking. I'm scared.” Kim Jung-tae and his wife reassured him, saying, “We just want to ask the experts if Ji-hoo can manage on his own. It's just a check-up.” However, upon arriving at the hospital, the couple appeared more anxious than Ji-hoo. Kim Jung-tae's wife confessed, “I was worried that Ji-hoo might be upset by the diagnosis... or that it might be more serious than I thought.”
Ji-hoo began with a consultation with Noh Kyu-sik, a mental health specialist and official mentor of 'Genius Discovery Team', followed by a comprehensive psychological test. Meanwhile, Kim Jung-tae and his wife filled out a questionnaire with about 500 items. Han Hye-jin shared her experience, saying, “When my child did it, there were so many questions that you couldn't lie even if you tried.” Jeon Soo-kyung also empathized, saying, “My kids were tested when they were young. Parents get more nervous.”
As Ji-hoo's test continued, Kim Jung-tae tried to remain calm, saying, “I'm not worried,” but his expression was tense. When Kim Jung-tae expressed concerns about Ji-hoo's ability to compromise and sacrifice in a dormitory setting, his wife countered, “I'm worried that Ji-hoo sacrifices and compromises too much.” She recalled an incident where Ji-hoo remained passive when a friend threw a racket at him after losing a badminton game, and his younger brother intervened to defend him. Kim Jung-tae's wife felt sorry for her son, who endured unfair situations without complaint.
After the test, Noh Kyu-sik acknowledged Ji-hoo's genius, stating, “His spatial intelligence is in the top 0.5%. Out of 7,000 to 8,000 data points, Ji-hoo is one of the few who completed the test so perfectly and quickly.” However, he noted a significant gap in Ji-hoo's abilities, saying, “His verbal intelligence is in the lower 14%.” Noh Kyu-sik diagnosed Ji-hoo with mild Asperger's Syndrome based on his social and language skills.
In Ji-hoo's drawing test, he displayed a unique worldview by depicting houses like blueprints and representing family members as objects rather than people. He struggled to draw faces, often sketching only the back view. His self-portrait as a tree revealed his internal struggles despite his efforts to live diligently. During the interview, Ji-hoo admitted, “I tend to act like I'm interested because I'm actually indifferent. I deliberately cater to others to avoid conflicts.” Kim Jung-tae was shocked to learn through the VCR that Ji-hoo was making efforts to improve his social skills. Han Hye-jin sympathized, saying, “Ji-hoo must have been very exhausted.”
Noh Kyu-sik pointed out that Ji-hoo was studying using his weakest memorization method and recommended visual materials for learning. He also suggested role-playing to enhance Ji-hoo's language skills. Although the Kim family had already been doing role-playing, Noh Kyu-sik emphasized the need for guidance on specific actions, appropriate dialogue, and expressions. He advised, “Ji-hoo is twice as special. He has talents and challenges, so you need to observe and support him well. Please see all aspects of Ji-hoo as special.”
After the diagnosis, Kim Jung-tae's wife felt relieved, saying, “I now have a clear idea of what to do. I feel refreshed.” Kim Jung-tae also relaxed, saying, “They gave us a solution that I'm best at—role-playing. I want to turn our home into a stage.” Ji-hoo, who had been apprehensive, accepted the results positively, saying, “The results were good, and they explained the issues well, highlighting both strengths and weaknesses.” Kim Jung-tae surprised Ji-hoo with a figure from his favorite animation as a gift. Ji-hoo responded by sending his first hand-heart to his father, wrapping up the long day.
'Dad and Me Season 3' airs every Wednesday at 10 PM.
Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr