Lee Kun-joo, my real mother I met for the first time in 41 years → It's very hard since I found my adoptive brother..If I hadn't known
Jun 12, 2025
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TV Chosun 'Dad and Me' is drawing attention with the appearance of Lee Kun-joo, a shaman from a child star who was loved as Soon-dol in the drama 'One Roof Three Families'.
He impressed viewers with his reunion with his two-year-old biological brother, who was adopted to France following his mother who broke up 41 years ago. Lee Kun-joo, who made the difficult decision to meet his family again, said, `It was hard to keep learning new things about my family that I didn't know about them" he recalled. However, on the other hand, Lee Kun-joo "The meaning of the family has changed a lot", he confessed to the change in his thoughts after meeting with his own mother and younger brother.
In order to solve his younger brother's curiosity, Lee Kun-joo, who is planning to reveal the story of his brother's adoption in France, which he did not know, in 'Dad and Me', conveyed his inner feelings in a question-and-answer session.
▶ What does 'family' mean to you? What has changed before and after my appearance on "Dad and I"?
"My family only had grandmothers and aunts, but the meaning of thinking about my family changed a lot when I did 'Dad and I'. I think I've come to accept that family is not just people who are connected with me, but in a good way, "'It's family that can share one's heart and always be on my side when it's hard.'"
▶ I met my own mother through 'Dad and I' and what did this meeting mean in life?
"I thought it would be okay to live without knowing that my mother exists, but what kind of person is my mother?I wanted to meet him at least once because I had a simple question of '. Of course, this meeting solved the questions I've been living with, but it doesn't mean much to a single meeting. He didn't raise me, but as a child, I decided to meet him because I thought I should look for him at least once before it's too late. I have no resentment at all to respect my mother's position and choice, I just want her to be safe and healthy."
▶ After my mom, I found my lost brother this time, when did you find out about his existence?
"I found out about my brother's existence 18 years ago. At that time, his younger brother Gun-cheol took the document 'adoption record' to the police station on his trip to Korea, and the police contacted the grandmother registered 'adoption applicant'. At that time, my grandmother was in the hospital, so my eldest aunt contacted me instead, and that day we found out about each other's existence."
▶ What is the first thing you wanted to tell your brother when you meet him?
"I had a lot of thoughts about what to talk about when we met, but all I could say was I was sorry. It's not my fault, it's not Keon-cheol's fault, but I just wanted to say sorry on behalf of my parents."
▶ You must have had a lot of difficulties reuniting your younger brother after your mother, what was your most difficult moment in the process of finding your family?
"The most difficult moment was when I kept learning new facts about my family that I didn't know. On the other hand, there were some things I wished I had not known. Grandmothers and aunts who raised me without any difficult expressions have been 'You must have suffered a lot'' I thought 'You must have healed a lot by yourself', and when Geon-cheol found out about these things, he said it was okay, but it hurts to think how upset he must have been.'
▶ Have you ever been afraid of getting hurt again in the process of meeting your family? Nevertheless, I also wonder why you decided to meet your family.
"My younger brother Gun-cheol was just someone I wanted to see until I died. In the case of my mom, I just wanted to meet her because I was curious. He gave birth to me. How did he look?It seems to have been due to the primal curiosity of '. I don't have much affection, but I don't hate it. I'm grateful for giving birth to me, but I wanted to be more filial to my aunt than my mother because 'the affection that raised me' was inevitably bigger than 'the affection that gave birth to me'. If my mom still feels sorry for me, I hope she is happy with her family now because she understood and accepted."
▶ I think there was a time when the word 'family' was left as a wound, but what shape did the wound take now?
"The word family has never been a scar in my life. My parents weren't there, but I don't think I've ever thought it hurt my grandmother and aunt anyway because they've been such a strong fence-like family."
▶ How do you think the appearance of "Dad and I" and the family reunion will make a difference in your life?
"There is no obligation to inform people about 'family' on the show, but I was afraid to be on people's lips just because I'm a celebrity. Anyway, I learned about my family while appearing on 'Dad and I', and now that it's known, I feel refreshed because I feel relieved. When my younger brother comes to Korea, I think he will walk around proudly and be happy. I'm trying to appreciate this situation because I know there are a lot of people who have similar family backgrounds to me, and there are a lot of people who are more struggling than me."
▶ There are a lot of tearful chemistry between dad and me and Lee Seung-yeon from 'Daddy and I'Crying Siblings', but why are the two of you so full of tears?
"I think it's because they sympathize so well with each other." Seung-yeon's sister had pain as her sister, and I had pain as myself, so I think I just feel it even if I don't tell her in detail. I sympathized that my sister must have thought a lot about making a difficult decision like me. I don't cry without knowing what emotions I'm feeling, but because I substitute emotions 'How did you feel at that time?' I think I cried a lot because I didn't have to say much just by looking at my eyes."
Regarding the adoption of his younger brother, who was adopted 41 years ago to France, Lee Kun-joo's family history, which will be released for the first time, can be found on TV Chosun 'Dad and I' which airs at 10 p.m. on Tuesday 17th.
soulhn1220@sportschosun.com
