From Struggles to Stardom: Park Hae Jin, Honey J, and Ryu Philip's Journey to Finding Peaceful Homes
Though they've consistently shown bright smiles on screen, the painful family histories of Park Hae Jin, Honey J, and Ryu Philip have touched many hearts, revealing their journeys from broken homes.
Recently, Park Hae Jin opened up about his family background on the SBS show 'Mother's Touch: Korean Side Dishes'. At 40, he could be living independently but chooses to reside with not only his mother but also his sister and nieces as an extended family. Park Hae Jin revealed, "When I was young, my mother and father separated." He lived with his sister and father until his junior high years. "During my first and second year of high school, I lived with my maternal grandmother while my sister lived with our paternal grandmother. It's been 16-17 years now that I've been living with my mother," he shared. Speaking warmly of his family, he said, "I've lived with my eldest niece since she was born, so it's been 13 years." While living with family can have its challenges, Park Hae Jin commented, "It might be a lie if I say it's not inconvenient at all. The house is duplex-style; I use the upstairs, and my family uses the downstairs. We're connected but have separate entrances."
Honey J also grew up in a divorced household. While appearing on Channel A's 'Oh Eun Young's Golden Counseling Center', she often repeated the phrase "left behind." Carefully, Honey J admitted, "My parents divorced when I was eight. I lived with my father because he had custody, but I frequently ran away to my mother's place since I missed her so much. After living a year with my father, I wrote a letter to him saying I would spend a year with my mother." After that, she mostly stayed with her mother. She's tried reaching out to her father but said, "He never answered my calls or texts. I still miss him." Last year, Honey J tied the knot with someone from the fashion industry. "After turning 30, I slowly started contacting my father. But I couldn't invite him to my wedding fearing it would hurt my mother. I wanted to walk down the aisle with him," she said with tears. This year, she welcomed a daughter and has since built a loving household, receiving more support and love from fans.
Ryu Philip's revelation was particularly heartbreaking. After his parents' divorce, he confessed that his father exploited him for labor. "It was common for my parents to fight and curse. I've seen my father raise his hand against my mother. She did all sorts of jobs to raise us three kids. One day, my father reached out saying he wanted to play the role of a dad and claimed he would raise us in America. Not wanting to be a burden on my mother, I moved to the U.S," he explained. The situation worsened as Ryu Philip said, "I worked like crazy for 4-5 years in my father's large restaurant that had a seating capacity of around 100, but he didn't give me a dime. My stepmother and stepsister were the only two staff members. We worked without breaks. My father fired all the other employees because he didn't want to pay their wages." On top of that, his father squandered their wealth on gambling. Though Ryu Philip held onto the hope of attending college based on his father's promises, when the time came, his father just said, "Hey! I'll leave the restaurant to you, so work there." His father laughed at his distress, and Ryu Philip eventually ran away. Currently, he's happily married to Mina, who is 17 years older than him, and they share their lovely daily life as a couple on YouTube, receiving much love.
The emotional stories of Park Hae Jin, Honey J, and Ryu Philip have moved many. Despite their challenging family backgrounds, they've grown admirably and are now beloved stars. Their candid confessions evoke both sympathy and cheers of support.
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