Pomnyun Sunim Calls 30-Year-Old Writer 'Essentially a Mental Minor' Over Independence Concerns

In the 5th episode of the SBS variety show 'Pomnyun Road: Sunim and Guests,' Pomnyun Sunim responded to a 30-year-old writer's concerns about independence by using the expression "essentially a mental minor." In the 5th episode, 'Again, Kolkata,' which aired on the 16th, a session was held where the production crew directly asked Pomnyun Sunim questions under the shade of a Bodhi tree in India.

The session was arranged as Noh Hong-chul requested immediate answers to questions from the staff, and the first question came from a 30-year-old writer who wanted to continue living with their parents.

The 'Kangaroo Tribe' Concern Raised by a 30-Year-Old Writer

Taking the microphone, the writer introduced themselves as part of the '30s Kangaroo Tribe' and revealed their inner desire to live in the same house with their parents for the rest of their life. They mentioned that while they have a desire to marry, they hesitate because marriage would mean living apart from their parents.

Here, 'Kangaroo Tribe' refers to people who rely heavily on their parents economically and lifestyle-wise even after becoming adults. Rather than using this expression as a joke, the broadcast directly addressed the desire to remain within a familiar protection even after becoming an adult.

Pomnyun Sunim's "Promise Between Adults"

Pomnyun Sunim did not frame the act of living with parents as a problem itself. However, he viewed it that if one lives with parents after becoming an adult, it should be closer to a life agreement made between adults rather than a relationship where a child is being protected.

He stated that one must do their part, such as sharing household chores and contributing to living expenses. He explained that if parents continue to handle everything from meals to cleaning, it is not simple cohabitation but a state of failing to be independent, which led to the remark, "essentially a mental minor."

The core was the method of living together rather than the intensity of the expression. Instead of brushing off family dependence or marriage concerns with laughter, he continued his answer by focusing on what responsibilities an adult living with parents should take. The conclusion was not that living with parents is wrong, but that if living in the same house, the way they care for each other must also change.

Therefore, Pomnyun Sunim's answer was closer to saying that to be treated as an adult within a family, one must first fulfill the role of an adult, rather than advice that unconditionally forces independence.

Production Crew Questions Following the 5th Episode 'Again, Kolkata'

The 5th episode, titled 'Again, Kolkata,' aired on June 16. 'Pomnyun Road: Sunim and Guests' has been proceeding in a format where Pomnyun Sunim, Noh Hong-chul, Lee Sang-yoon, Lee Joo-bin, Lee Ki-taek, and Woochan follow a journey through India and share life's questions.

While wearing the veneer of a travel variety show, this episode drew attention for bringing the concerns of the production crew, not just the cast, into the broadcast. In the same episode, questions regarding a 28-year-old camera director's fear of making mistakes and a 48-year-old local Indian coordinator's guilt also followed.

The three questions differed in age and profession, but they were connected by a flow asking how to choose for oneself and take responsibility. The program has been introduced as airing every Tuesday at 9 PM, and the replay information for the 5th episode summarizes this broadcast as the final page reflecting on the time spent together.