By Zephyria 
Following the finale of his most recent work,
Yoon Joo-ho was an honorary director at Look Planning and also an actor under their management. Even while working on projects, he made sure to visit the company two or three times a week.
It was around that time that rumors of Yoon Joo-ho’s discord with his parents began to surface in earnest.
As he cut the chonggak kimchi with kitchen scissors, Song Hyun-soo tried his best to act as if nothing was wrong.
“There were always rumors about him not getting along with his parents.”
“Even so, they’re his biological parents. Do you think his biological parents would really do something like the rumors say?”
“There are parents in the world who are worse than none. The ratio might be small, but they exist. Look at the news articles. How many parents are worse than strangers in this world.”
“That’s true. Who was it, hyung? You know, that old Christmas movie. The kid who defends his house alone and beats up burglars…”
“Home Alone?”
“Yes, that one! The kid protagonist in that movie also became a huge star, and his relationship with his parents completely fell apart. Come to think of it, that kid, he’s not a kid anymore, he must be much older than me now.”
The story of the parents of Macaulay Culkin, the lead actor in the movies ‘Home Alone’ 1 and 2, was famous. As a movie still loved decades later, Song Hyun-soo knew the story even though he wasn’t from the era when the movie was actually released.
Macaulay Culkin, who enjoyed global popularity, earning about 60 billion won (approximately $60 million USD) in appearance fees in the 1990s alone.
After the movie’s great success, his parents stepped in as Culkin’s managers. To them, Culkin was merely a means of making money. As if that weren’t enough, during their divorce, his parents engaged in a mud-slinging legal battle over Culkin’s custody, or more precisely, Culkin’s money.
As an adult, Culkin completely cut ties with his parents. It wasn’t just a matter of living without contact. Culkin filed a lawsuit against his father to terminate their paternal relationship, and he won. Simply put, they became complete strangers legally.
To that extent, Culkin’s father was an object of hatred. Because his father saw him only as money.
Tens of billions.
That was an amount that could make one see their own child as money. There was no guarantee that Yoon Joo-ho’s parents wouldn’t do the same.
“I heard Yoon Joo-ho has earned well over a hundred billion won. It’s hard to believe parents and child can have such a bad relationship even after earning that much money. Truly… money doesn’t buy happiness, I guess.”
Jung-ho said, as if talking about someone else, while picking up the chonggak kimchi that Song Hyun-soo had cut and bringing it to his mouth. It was, in fact, someone else’s story.
“But then again, not having money doesn’t guarantee happiness either.”
“That’s right. Too much is a problem, and too little is also a problem.”
This time, Jung-ho’s voice, filled with agreement, carried a deep sense of empathy. He was likely thinking of his own family.
“But when I saw the interview with Yoon Joo-ho’s father, it was quite heartbreaking.”
“What was heartbreaking?”
“He was worried about his son, even after receiving a certified letter from him? He said he was worried about his son’s image being ruined, since an actor’s image is everything.”
“That’s what they call media play.”
“Ah… it seemed genuine, though.”
“Someone who’s so worried about his actor son’s image being ruined, giving an interview to the media in this situation? That’s complete bullshit.”
Song Hyun-soo said, pouring more water into his cup. He wanted to look up the related articles right away, but he didn’t want Jung-ho to know how interested he was in Yoon Joo-ho.
“Still… it’s true that Yoon Joo-ho’s parents made him who he is today, isn’t it?”
“Jung-ho-ya.”
“Yes?”
“It’s already 3 o’clock. Aren’t you going to work?”
Jung-ho checked the time on his smartwatch and started moving his chopsticks faster. He was about to stuff a large amount of ramen into his mouth when he paused, then tilted his head, looking at Song Hyun-soo.
“Hyung, what time is your reading?”
“You can leave when I leave.”
“Wow, the atmosphere at the reading today is going to be brutal.”
“……”
After dropping that remark, the guy buried his face in his bowl and started devouring the ramen until his face was barely visible. Song Hyun-soo’s chopsticks, on the other hand, moved sluggishly.
Thinking of Yoon Joo-ho’s attitude when he was yelling at his lawyer over the phone during the last reading, it was highly probable that today would be as Jung-ho predicted. But what Song Hyun-soo was worried about wasn’t the atmosphere of the reading.
Song Hyun-soo had experienced losing someone due to so-called ‘malicious comments.’
His mouth felt dry. A thirst that no amount of water could quench.
■■■
Yoon Joo-ho’s Father, ‘Wants to Protect the Son He Devoted His Life To’
Heartbreaking Paternal Love
Actor Yoon Joo-ho has reportedly sent a certified letter to Yoon Kyung-joon, co-CEO of ‘Look Planning’ and his own parent, and Director Hwang Mi-yeon. The fact that a top star in Korea sent a certified letter to his own biological parents, of all people, has shocked many.
Director Yoon, known for his handsome looks that resemble Yoon Joo-ho’s, and popular among Yoon Joo-ho’s fans, made a difficult decision to grant an exclusive interview to VVN.
He appeared at the meeting place, visibly gaunt. Having produced several nationally popular variety shows as a PD for a major broadcast network, he was also the one who opened the door to Yoon Joo-ho’s acting career.
His wife, Director Hwang Mi-yeon, Yoon Joo-ho’s mother, can be said to be the person who has built actor Yoon Joo-ho’s history over the past 30 years.
Given the immense shock they must have felt when they received a certified letter from their only son, Yoon Joo-ho, the interviewer’s heart was heavy throughout the interview.
Despite this, Director Yoon was concerned only about the potential damage to his actor son’s image throughout the interview. Perhaps this is what parental affection is like.
“Joo-ho has lived as an actor and a top star since he was very young. He’s a child who knows nothing about the world… I’m just worried that the public might see Joo-ho differently because of this incident,” he began, his face full of worry.
“It’s true that I feel hurt, as a father and as the manager who has cared for Joo-ho, when he tells me to step down from the company my parents have run. But my concerns are greater than that. It’s frustrating that he’s trying to do something when he knows nothing about management…”
Director Yoon and Director Hwang have always handled the management of Look Planning and Yoon Joo-ho’s acting career. Although Yoon Joo-ho is an honorary director of Look Planning, Director Yoon and Director Hwang have supported him as much as possible so he could focus solely on his acting.
“Of course, we’ve had friction with Joo-ho recently due to differences in opinion regarding the company’s direction. But business isn’t just about ambition, is it? Money isn’t everything. I’m sure Joo-ho isn’t doing this to his parents out of greed for money. It must be impulsive. I believe in my son.”
Director Yoon paused, his eyes welling up. He lowered his head and said as if in repentance.
“That too is our own inadequacy. Since he grew up in a different environment than others from a young age, we indulged him, letting him do as he pleased. That’s why he sometimes stubbornly insists on getting what he wants, like a child.”
He remained silent for a while, attributing the cause of this incident to themselves rather than Yoon Joo-ho.
“Even if Director Hwang and I had a strained relationship, we are people who have dedicated our entire lives to supporting Joo-ho. When it comes to worrying about Joo-ho’s future, we have always been partners with one heart. I believe the public will recognize that.” —