Jo Bo-ah Shares Childhood Memory of a Home Break-In: “I Felt Sorry for the Thief”
In a promotional interview released by Netflix Korea on May 16 for the drama Dear Hongrang, Jo Bo-ah appeared alongside co-star Lee Jae-wook in a video titled “The Son Who Returned After 12 Years Is Hiding His Power – Here to Promote Dear Hongrang.”
During the segment, host Jonathan mentioned Jo Bo-ah’s nickname as a “compassion fairy” and asked her to confirm a story about feeling sympathy for a thief who once broke into her childhood home.
Jo recalled:
“I think I was around 7 or 8 years old when a thief broke into our house and stole my mom’s valuables. Instead of being angry, I remember feeling sorry for them. I thought, ‘How desperate must someone be to break into someone else’s home and steal their belongings?’”
Though the situation was frightening, Jo explained that her childhood instincts led her to think of the emotional or financial desperation that might drive someone to such an act.
Comedian and fellow guest Yoo Byung-jae followed up with a tongue-in-cheek question:
“Do you hope the thief has turned their life around, or do you think they should have been punished?”
Jo answered earnestly:
“I hope they realized what they did was wrong and chose to live a better life.”
Her thoughtful response earned praise from fans online, with many commenting on her innate empathy and unique perspective, even from a young age.