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Kim Jung-tae's Son Diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome on 'Dad and Me Season 3'
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.”
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
