By Actress Jo Yoon Hee is opening up about life six years after her divorce from actor Lee Dong Gun. In a recent YouTube conversation about parenting and divorce, the actress spoke candidly about the pressures she faced at the time — while her ex-husband has separately given the public a look at how he has moved on.
The two married in 2017 and welcomed their daughter Roa the same year, before divorcing in 2020. Since then, Jo Yoon Hee has been raising Roa, while Lee Dong Gun has shared moments of his daily life with his daughter through television appearances.
“I Didn’t Even Realize I Was This Brave”
In a video uploaded on October 14, Jo Yoon Hee sat down with fellow actresses Hwang Jung Eum and Shim Yi Young over a meal to talk about parenting and divorce. Jo Yoon Hee shared her worries about raising Roa, admitting she once held an ideal image of the kind of mother she wanted to be — only to realize she doesn’t know what kind of mother her daughter actually wants.
“I had an ideal image of the kind of mother I wanted to be. Because of that, I thought Roa would also have an ideal image of a mother, and I wanted to be that kind of mom. But honestly, I don’t know what kind of mother Roa wants. She might want a mom who doesn’t get angry,” she said, adding that staying calm is impossible in practice when saying good things a hundred times doesn’t make a difference. Hwang Jung Eum, who is raising two sons herself, related to her experiences and sympathized.
Hwang also recalled the moment she first learned of the divorce. “I was shocked when I saw the divorce news. Divorce isn’t something just anyone goes through. Especially for an actress, going through a divorce means bearing tremendous burdens,” she said. “Even though there was the fear of losing her career, I thought unnie was very strong for making that decision.”
Looking back on that time, Jo Yoon Hee reflected simply: “I didn’t even realize I was this brave.”
Lee Dong Gun’s New Life
Interest has also surrounded ex-husband Lee Dong Gun’s current life. On the October 4 episode of SBS’s “My Ugly Duckling,” he revealed his new home — and a surprising detail: he still uses the bridal furniture purchased during his marriage to Jo Yoon Hee. When guest Kim Heechul noticed the living room sofa and asked whether it was from their married life, Lee confirmed it was.
“I think it’s a personal choice. Some people might take what they need, but since I found the house and started the newlywed life, I’m the one still using everything,” Lee explained.
Six years on, both stars appear to be finding their footing — Jo Yoon Hee navigating motherhood with hard-won honesty, and Lee Dong Gun building a new chapter in a familiar home.
Jo Yoon Hee and Lee Dong Gun (Credits: Koreaboo)
Source: Koreaboo — read the full story there.
