Veteran Actress Bang Eun-hee Opens Up About Her Marriages and Life Journey on '4-Person Dining Table'

On the latest episode of Channel A's 'Best Friends Documentary – 4-Person Dining Table,' which aired on the 29th, veteran actress Bang Eun-hee appeared alongside her close friends, Yulhee and lawyer Yang So-young.

Bang Eun-hee shared her unique connection with Yulhee, a former member of the girl group 'LABOUM' under her ex-husband's company, and lawyer Yang So-young, who is currently handling Yulhee's custody case. She expressed gratitude towards Yang, who supported her during a difficult time when her ex-husband used her seal without permission, saying, "I can't express how reassuring it was. I wish I had met her when I was going through my divorce."

During the episode, Bang Eun-hee also opened up about her challenging teenage years. She revealed that her patriarchal father insisted that "women should stay at home," which led her to write "I want to die" on the walls. Despite her father's extreme opposition, which included chasing her with a knife, she pursued her dream of becoming an actress after being captivated by a musical performance. She eventually debuted, overcoming a 2000:1 competition to be cast in the film 'General's Son.'

Bang Eun-hee candidly admitted that she didn't place much importance on marriage, leading her to decide on her first marriage in just 33 days and her second in 30 days. Her second marriage was influenced by her heartbreak when her three-year-old son asked her to "buy a dad from the toy store." However, her second husband couldn't understand life with a child, and she eventually found the courage to divorce again after her son, now in high school, told her, "Live for yourself, not just for me."

She added, "The biggest mistake in my life was marriage, and the best decisions were getting divorced and having my son." Her 23-year-old son, currently studying in the U.S. to become a film director, once told her, "If there are no men in Korea, I'll bring home a 'Tom' from abroad," and "I've matured, so you don't have to." These remarks left her friends in awe.

The episode also delved into the lives of her friends. Yulhee recalled her 2023 divorce, mentioning how daunting it was to consult a lawyer and how she initially tried to handle it alone. She now meets her children through scheduled visitations and shared that her 8-year-old son said, "Mom, you're my number one until I meet a prettier girl." MC Park Kyung-lim humorously noted that while young children often think their mom is the prettiest, their standards change as they grow older, joking, "My child told me, 'Mom, your looks are just average.'"

Lawyer Yang So-young, who has been married for 25 years, confessed that she considered a 'graduated marriage' to focus on her own life. When MC Park Kyung-lim asked if she would hire divorce lawyer Lee In-cheol if she faced marital issues, Yang humorously replied, "I'm friends with Lee In-cheol, but I don't trust him," causing laughter on set.

Channel A's 'Best Friends Documentary – 4-Person Dining Table' airs every Monday at 8:10 PM.

Ryu Ye-ji, TenAsia Reporter ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr