Hwanhee's 74-year-old mother pulls espresso and changes his mind
On KBS 2TV's Men Who Do Housework Season 2, Hwanhee clashes with then supports his 74-year-old mother's first job hunt.
"I told you to tell me if you were short on money" — The conflict between a son and his mother
Singer Hwanhee revealed his complex emotions while watching his 74-year-old mother take on a new challenge. In the episode of KBS 2TV's 'Men Who Do Housework Season 2' aired on the 11th, the process of Hwanhee's mother seeking employment for her first foray into social life was depicted.
The incident began with news that his mother had failed a part-time job interview. Hwanhee, who visited his mother's house without notice, expressed both disappointment and worry upon discovering that she had been looking for work secretly without informing him or his older brother. "I told you to tell me if you were short on money," Hwanhee said, strongly opposing her decision, which led to a heated argument with his mother.
The reason his mother wanted to work was not merely financial. Despite the realistic barriers of being 74 years old with no prior work experience, she expressed a sincere desire to meet new people. Her motivation stemmed from a wish to confirm that she is still a needed member of society and a desire to do even small things for her grandchildren and children.
From sesame oil factories to library cafes: A senior's job experience
Following the conflict, Hwanhee accepted his older brother's persuasion and decided to support his mother's challenge. Hwanhee accompanied his mother to a dedicated senior employment agency to receive counseling for senior jobs.
First, his mother participated in a one-day experience at a sesame oil factory. Despite it being her first time, she showed an active attitude toward learning and expressed satisfaction, saying, "It relieves stress and feels good." Hwanhee visited her workplace with vitamin drinks to cheer her on from a distance.
The second experience took place at a library cafe. There, his mother learned how to pull espresso shots and prepare drinks. Hwanhee volunteered as the first customer to check his mother's proficiency. After completing the experience, his mother shared her thoughts, saying, "Doing this work made me realize what life is about. I feel like my energy is surging." Hwanhee also positively supported her journey, noting, "I felt that age really isn't everything."
Records overwhelming 1st place in Star Trend voting
Meanwhile, Hwanhee proved his fandom's power by recording overwhelming numbers in recent Star Trend voting. In the Star Trend Trot Male category vote tallied on the 10th, Hwanhee took 1st place with 1,412,220 votes. Kang Moon-kyung (657,025 votes) took 2nd place, followed by Sung Ri (317,808 votes) in 3rd.
The power in the ballad category was even stronger. Hwanhee secured an unrivaled 1st place in the Star Trend Ballad category vote for the first week of July, earning 13,333,070 votes. KBS2's 'Men Who Do Housework Season 2' airs every Saturday at 9 PM.
