Kim Hye-eun reveals 20-year-old grievance from sister-in-law

Actress Kim Hye-eun revealed that during the first 10 years of her marriage, she struggled to say "no" to her in-laws. Because of her tendency to always answer "yes," she believed she was a compliant daughter-in-law, but her youngest sister-in-law recently brought laughter to the situation by revealing an unexpected grievance she had held onto for over 20 years.

The family history came to light during an art exhibition visit. In a video titled "From works that make you gasp to paintings that hit the spot. An art date with someone special?!" released on her YouTube channel "Kim Hye-eun, Just Do It! Eun" on the 16th, Kim visited the exhibition with her youngest sister-in-law, Lee Sang Yoon.

During the visit, Lee introduced himself as "the youngest sister-in-law of actress Kim Hye-eun." Kim expressed her delight at having a family member appear on her channel, noting that they visited the exhibition together so Lee, who studied art history and criticism, could provide commentary on the works.

The conversation naturally shifted from art to family matters. As they looked back on Kim's early married life, a subtle difference in perspective emerged between Kim and her sister-in-law.

Recalling that she was the first to marry in the family, Kim noted, "Back then, for about 10 years, I almost couldn't say 'no' to my in-laws." She explained that she found it difficult to refuse requests from her in-laws early on, and because there was an older sister-in-law who also said "yes" to everything, she assumed the youngest sister-in-law must have also had an easy time.

However, Lee's response was unexpected.

"It was hard. Because the older sister-in-law tends to start too many things.""

Kim was momentarily flustered as an anecdote she had long forgotten was brought to light: the "Bindae-tteok (Korean pancake) Incident."

The incident began when Kim suggested to the family that they make bindae-tteok at home. The problem was that the amount of batter kept increasing during the cooking process. According to Lee, they kept adjusting the consistency by adding more ingredients if it was too thin or water if it was too thick, until the volume of batter became unmanageable.

The bigger issue was that after Kim initiated the task, she had to leave for her filming schedule. Consequently, Lee was left to fry the endless supply of pancakes alone.

Recalling the moment, Lee said, "I really fried bindae-tteok to death by myself, and it wouldn't end."

While it was a minor family anecdote that had faded from Kim's memory, it remained a vivid memory for Lee even 20 years later.

Hearing the story, Kim burst into laughter. "My goodness, you left right after starting it!" she exclaimed, realizing her past actions. She joked, "It would have been a disaster if I hadn't asked. You would have held onto this until you died, carrying this grievance alone. I'm glad I started YouTube.""

The scene highlights how roles and expectations formed in early marriage can result in entirely different memories over time. For Kim, it was a period of being unable to refuse; for her sister-in-law, it was a period of cleaning up after an older sister-in-law who started projects and then left.

Since her debut in 1997, Kim has maintained a relatively private family life while building a prolific career. She has showcased her range in various works, including "Secret Love Affair," "Another Miss Oh," "Doctor Prisoner," "Itaewon Class," and "Catch My Husband's Affair." This video offers a rare, human glimpse into her personality outside of her professional roles.

The revelation also touches on the complexities of relationship boundaries in marriage. Kim's reflection suggests that being overly accommodating is not always the best way to make others comfortable.

Notably, Lee ended the revelation on a positive note. She explained that being able to share this long-held story now is possible because they share similar values and can communicate openly, expressing gratitude for their relationship.

The "Bindae-tteok Incident" serves as a testament to how time can turn old grievances into shared laughter when family members grow to understand one another deeply.