Son Yeon-jae Opens Up About Motherhood and Life After Retirement

Son Yeon-jae, the legendary rhythmic gymnast from South Korea, shared her heartfelt experiences of raising her 18-month-old son on the latest episode of KBS 2TV's 'New Release Convenience Store' (also known as 'Pyeonstorang').

During the episode aired on the 10th, Son Yeon-jae reflected on her 17-year career as a rhythmic gymnast, recalling her retirement announcement at the age of 24. She candidly admitted, "Honestly, I was happy when I retired," bringing laughter to the audience. She added, "Despite the various injuries, I felt a sense of relief and bittersweet satisfaction after completing my final Olympics."

After retiring, Son married a financial professional nine years her senior in August 2022 and welcomed their son, Lee Jun-yeon, in February last year. Now a first-time mom, Son Yeon-jae expressed her gratitude and joy in watching her son grow, saying, "I realize my mom must have raised me like this. It's a blessing and fun to watch him grow." She humorously added, "Please give me lots of advice on how to do well."

In her second year of motherhood, Son Yeon-jae impressed viewers with her meticulous meal prep for her son, focusing on a balanced diet of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Her dedication extends to packing homemade baby food in an icebox even when traveling abroad.

The episode also revealed her luxurious $7.2 million home in Itaewon, featuring a spacious living room divided to create a dedicated area for her son, along with a separate nursery. The kitchen is also divided into spaces for the baby and adults, maintaining cleanliness and order.

Recently, Son Yeon-jae shared her thoughts on having a second child, admitting, "It's physically demanding to raise a child. When I was an athlete, I only had to manage my own training and condition, but with parenting, it's challenging to keep up with the ever-changing condition of a child."

She concluded by expressing her contentment with her current life, saying, "As an athlete, achieving goals brought joy, but raising my son brings an unimaginable happiness as everything is a first."

Reported by Kim Eun-jung, TenAsia. Contact: eun@tenasia.co.kr