Han Ga-in Tears Up Remembering Her Mother: From “A Lifelong Model Student” to “Marriage as an Escape”
On the February 26th broadcast of tvN’s variety show “You Quiz on the Block”, Han Ga-in appeared as a guest.
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Lookalike Encounter & Hospitalization
Han Ga-in commented on her resemblance to Kim Dong-jun, “We really do look alike. I used a face-swapping app, but I couldn’t even tell if the face had changed. The night I met my doppelgänger (Kim Dong-jun), I suddenly became very sick and ended up being hospitalized for no apparent reason.”
Breaking Free from Image Pressures
Han Ga-in made headlines with her transformation into a “60-year-old aunt ajumma” character inspired by YouTube creator ralral’s popular alter-ego. She shared, “People around me doubted it would work, but surprisingly, many found it funny. It was the most I had laughed in the past five years. I felt really good. My husband Yeon Jung-hoon was shocked. Breaking free from the pressure to always look pretty made me feel truly liberated.“
When Yoo Jae-suk asked why she wanted to be so free, Han Ga-in responded, “I lived without any freedom. Now, I want to do the things I couldn’t before. Many people assume I’m strict and uptight because of my image, but that’s not the case at all.”
She continued, “I’m actually even wilder than I appear on YouTube I tone it down there. I was never interested in appearances. Back in high school, guys would cheer me on during exams and flood me with love letters.“
Academic Achievements & Early Life
Yoo Jae-suk then brought up her academic achievements, asking, “I heard you scored 380 out of 400 on the college entrance exam and ranked fifth in your school. Is that true?” Han Ga-in humbly replied, “It was an unusually easy exam that year, but I guess I did study quite a bit.“
She also recalled her time at Paiwha Girls’ High School, where she appeared on “The Golden Bell Challenge” and was even interviewed as a student representative on the news. This led to an influx of calls from entertainment agencies.
Unexpected Path to Stardom
Han Ga-in shared, “I was just standing on the street when someone approached me, asking me to do a shoot. I was 19 at the time. Agencies kept calling, but I fought back, insisting I wouldn’t become a celebrity. I had never even dreamed of it. I didn’t think I had the talent, nor did I have any interest or confidence.”
Ironically, she entered the entertainment industry after shooting an airline commercial as a part-time job to earn tuition money.
Marriage as an Escape
At the peak of her popularity, she suddenly announced her marriage. She reflected, “I had lived as a model student my whole life, but getting married was my first big rebellion. Yoo Jae-suk was the MC at our wedding, but it was a complete disaster a total mess.“
Yoo Jae-suk recalled the chaos, “It was an outdoor wedding, and the dry weather stirred up dust everywhere. It was half meat, half dust. Since there were no designated press areas back then, reporters surrounded the bride and groom. A glass vase with flowers broke, and at times, the couple was completely obscured from view.”
Han Ga-in married at 24. She explained her decision, “It was hard to date in public, so we would meet at home with Yeon Jung-hoon’s parents. I felt that if I joined this family, I would be happy and secure. Suddenly becoming a celebrity was overwhelming, and at times, I just wanted to run away.”
Struggles with Identity & Family Background
She continued, “I was always too busy to have a rebellious phase. From the age of 7~8, I was aware of how hard my mother worked. After getting married and becoming independent, I felt like I had lost my sense of purpose. I didn’t know what I was good at and felt so confused. People assume I grew up in a wealthy family, but that’s not true. Still, I had too much pride to let anyone see my struggles. I always tried to be the perfect student and live correctly.”
Tearing up, she confessed, “My mom couldn’t take care of me properly because she had to work. When it rained, she never came to pick me up. Even though I knew she wouldn’t come, I still waited. I would wait until the very end then walk home alone. Because of that, I promised myself that I would always be the first to pick up my own children.“
Meanwhile, Han Ga-in married actor Yeon Jung-hoon in 2005, and they have a son and a daughter together.