Hwang Jung-eum Reveals the Silent Struggles of Raising Two Sons Alone: “They Missed their Father”
On the March 4 episode of SBS Plus and E Channel’s reality show “Because I’m Solo (tentative title)”, Hwang Jung-eum offered a rare glimpse into her life as a single mother.
Introducing her sons with warmth, she said, “I’m Hwang Jung-eum, the mother of Wangsik and Kangsik. My children are my greatest treasures. They’re so precious.”
She candidly shared her reasons for choosing divorce, saying, “I wasn’t happy. At first, after getting married, I felt great energy, but over time, I became depressed, and my energy turned negative. It was incredibly difficult. My children shouldn’t have to sense that kind of energy because they’re too precious. In the end, I had no choice but to get a divorce. But no words can express how sorry I feel for my kids.”
Hwang also made headlines by revealing her spacious two-story home with a large yard, as well as her luxury sports car, worth around 500 million KRW (approximately 375,000 USD). She explained the emotional reason behind the purchase: “It was extremely expensive. Paying it off has been tough. I bought it in 2020 when I first decided to divorce. I remember looking at myself in the bathhouse mirror and feeling so pitiful. I had made the decision to divorce, and I felt like I needed to give myself a gift.”
She continued, “I wanted to live a happy life with my sons, riding in a cool car together. I wanted to escape from my unhappiness, so I chose a car that suited that feeling. Right now, I spend money I haven’t even earned yet, which creates a vicious cycle. But I’ve never once regretted buying that car.”
Later in the episode, a man visited her home, sparking curiosity among viewers. He was later revealed to be her sons’ physical education teacher.
Discussing the difficulties of raising two energetic boys alone, Hwang admitted, “It would be ideal if their father could play with them, but that’s not possible right now. There’s a limit to how much I can do physically. So the teacher fills in where I lack.”
When asked whether her children feel their father’s absence, she responded, “Sometimes, they say they miss him, so I just tell them, ‘Call him and see him anytime you want.’ They understand that even though their parents live separately, their father is always someone they can see whenever they want.”
Reflecting on her journey, she said, “The best thing I’ve ever done in my life is having my sons, Wangsik and Kangsik. That’s just life – there are good days, painful days, and happy days. But I think the hardships have made me stronger.”
Hwang Jung-eum married former professional golfer Lee Young-don in 2016 and had two sons. She initially filed for divorce in 2020 but later reconciled with her husband. However, in February 2024, she confirmed that she was once again undergoing divorce proceedings. After that, she entered a new relationship with basketball player Kim Jong-gyu but broke up two weeks after publicizing their romance.