Kim Joo-ha (52) made headlines by mentioning her ex-husband on the recent episode of MBN's 'Kim Joo-ha's Day and Night' aired on the 25th.
The show featured Yoon Soo-il, celebrating his 50th anniversary in the music industry. Yoon captivated the audience with his Hollywood actor-like appearance. When asked by Moon Se-yoon if he ever tires of compliments on his looks, Yoon coolly replied, "The more I hear it, the better," showcasing his charming personality. Yoon, who is preparing for a nationwide tour to mark his 50th anniversary, revealed plans for an international tour covering seven cities in the U.S., five in Japan, and extending to Australia and New Zealand, where his daughter Roze grew up.
Yoon shared that the main theme of his first studio album in 11 years, released in 2025, was love. He humorously pointed out the issue of low birth rates, saying, "The biggest problem these days is love. People aren't having kids, are they?" Kim Joo-ha responded with a witty remark, "It's not because there's no love that people aren't having kids!" sparking laughter. Unfazed, Yoon suggested his next concert title could be 'Even If I Have a Child,' creating a delightful exchange.
Yoon opened up about facing discrimination due to his exotic appearance, being born to a North Korean mother who fled south and a U.S. Air Force pilot father in 1955. He recalled being a spectacle and hearing whispers like, "His father is American. He's a Yankee's son," due to the strong prejudices against multicultural families at the time.
Influenced by his mother, who always played music, Yoon developed an interest in music. Despite his mother's strong opposition to his career choice, he convinced her with a tearful plea, emphasizing the importance of individuality in entertainment. His mother's letter to Shin Joong-hyun, who was forming a multicultural band, became the decisive factor for Yoon's entry into 'Golden Grapes.'
Debuting with the trot song 'I Won't Love,' Yoon felt the lyrics resonated with his mother's story, saying, "My mom met someone she shouldn't have, and that's how I was born." His debut album, which included this song, sold over a million copies, but he couldn't sing it to his mother immediately as she was diagnosed with cancer and given six months to live.
Yoon later sang to his mother when her condition improved slightly, and she lived six more years, leaving a lasting impression. During his peak, Yoon was adored by young female fans, and he recalled his mother scolding them for gathering outside their home, saying, "Aren't you girls supposed to be studying?"
Yoon shared a heartwarming story about naming his daughter 'Beauty' and comforting her when she felt stressed about it, saying, "What can you do about being born beautiful?" He also expressed pride in his granddaughters' excitement over his song 'Apartment' gaining renewed popularity thanks to Roze, with them exclaiming, "Grandpa is the original singer, right?"
Meanwhile, Kim Joo-ha, who married a businessman in 2004 and has a son born in 2006 and a daughter in 2011, filed for divorce in 2013 due to her ex-husband's infidelity and abuse. She secured custody and alimony but was ordered to pay her ex-husband approximately 1 billion won in asset division.
Kim previously revealed on a broadcast that her ex-husband had an affair with a woman living in the building next to theirs. She recounted, "When I presented evidence of the affair, he resorted to violence. I have a ruptured eardrum and hearing loss in one ear. I was hit twice, once resulting in traumatic brain injury. An hour before a news broadcast, I collapsed and was taken to the hospital, where the doctor asked if I wanted to report it. I said no."
Reporter: Tae Yuna, Ten Asia youyou@tenasia.co.kr