T-ara's Jeon Boram moves mother with 100 million won gift

T-ara's Jeon Boram's gift of 100 million won to actress Lee Mi-young is drawing renewed attention, as it transcends a mere high-value present and intertwines with the story of a mother and daughter who longed for each other over many years. For Jeon, who had to live apart from her mother due to her parents' divorce during her childhood, the meaning of the money was far greater than the amount itself; it represented the family time she regained late in life and her heart toward the mother who endured those times with her.

Jeon Boram and Lee Mi-young appeared as mother and daughter on JTBC's 'Salon House with a Story' broadcast on the 19th, where they spoke candidly about their past pain and current relationship. In particular, Lee revealed an anecdote where her daughter gave her 100 million won as pocket money after her debut, adding a touching layer to the story as it was revealed that Jeon urged her to "use it only for yourself."

To understand their current relationship, one cannot overlook their childhood stories. During the broadcast, Lee recalled the situation where she ultimately had no choice but to send Jeon Boram to her father, Jeon Young Rok, stating that she lacked the confidence to raise the children alone at the time and had only 2 million won in her bank account. She confessed to living with long-standing guilt and regret over the decision to live apart from her daughter.

Those days remained vivid for Jeon as well. She recalled how she wanted to go to her mother but could not understand why they could not live together, spending confusing times hearing that she would be explained later. Her confession that she tried to accept the situation in her own childish way by looking at the money her mother pulled from her wallet served as a moment showing the moment of separation through a child's eyes.

In fact, Jeon has previously revealed on broadcasts that she lived with her father, Jeon Young Rok, for over 8 years following her parents' divorce. She confessed that because her mother looked like she was struggling at the time, even with her young heart, she felt she should not go to her mother. She also recalled missing her biological mother during everyday moments, such as when she was eating, even though her stepmother treated her well.

Jeon Young Rok and Lee Mi-young married in 1985 but divorced in 1997. They have two daughters, Jeon Boram and Jeon Woo-ram. Jeon Young Rok remarried and formed a new family afterward, and Lee also remarried and later divorced. Amidst the changing family dynamics, the time the two young daughters had to live apart from their parents left a significant mark on the lives of the two sisters.

After passing through those times and living with her mother again, Jeon said she felt how much she had changed. She revealed that while living with Lee, she often hears people ask, "Why have you become so bright?", suggesting a meaning beyond a simple physical reunion. This can be interpreted as the context where the void that had remained in her heart for a long time was gradually resolved through daily life with her family.

Having reunited, the daughter expressed her feelings to her mother in a special way. Lee revealed that about a year after Jeon Boram debuted with T-ara, she handed her 100 million won, saying, "I will give you pocket money, so make sure to use it only for yourself." When Lee asked at the time, "How much are you going to give me?", Jeon said she would give 100 million won, and Lee expressed surprise, noting it was a large sum she had never even touched.

The important part is that Jeon even specified how the money should be used. Unlike simply adding to the living expenses of a parent facing economic hardship, she wanted her mother—who could not buy or use anything for herself—to use the money entirely for her own sake. It was a way for the daughter, now an adult, to belatedly repay the mother who had no choice but to let her go during her childhood.

Lee also spoke of the pocket money she received from her second daughter, Jeon Woo-ram, not just Jeon Boram. Jeon Woo-ram, who works as a composer, said she gave 500,000 won to her mother, noting that while it wasn't as large an amount as her sister's, it was a significant sum from her perspective. Rather than the difference in the amount, the fact that both daughters were thinking of their mother in their own ways likely held a special meaning for Lee.

Jeon Boram's family history had many ups and downs, contrary to the glamorous exterior of a celebrity family. Born to singer Jeon Young Rok and actress Lee Mi-young, she is a descendant of a representative celebrity family, with her grandfather known as veteran actor Hwang Hae and her grandmother as singer Baek Seol-hee. Although she grew up in a family familiar to the public, she could not avoid the private pain of family dissolution and separation from her parents.

Debuting as a member of T-ara in 2009, Jeon Boram was part of the group during its peak with hits like "Bo Peep Bo Peep", "I Go Crazy Because of You", and "Roly-Poly". After approximately 8 years of group activities, she left the team and later pursued acting. Her family history, hidden behind her glamorous idol career, has been revealed to the public through various broadcasts, and her relationship with her mother has become a central pillar of her life story.

In the past, Jeon revealed that she does not meet her father, Jeon Young Rok, frequently, but she did not express this as one-sided resentment. She noted that she understands he has a new family and his own life, and expressed that she is more concerned about her mother's health and well-being. Even as an adult, she did not reduce her childhood wounds to simple blame, showing a complex perspective toward her family.

The 100 million won revealed in this broadcast is an extension of those years. While the amount itself could be a sensational story of a celebrity giving a large sum to a parent, it hides the reality of a young daughter who could not understand her parents' divorce, the 8 years spent apart from her mother, and the daily life they have since rebuilt together.

Ultimately, the 100 million won Jeon Boram gave to Lee is less about economic support and more an expression of her growth. Beyond the staggering amount that Lee noted she had never even touched, the most lasting impact is the fact that the daughter, who was forced to leave her mother as a child, has become someone capable of providing for her mother through her own strength.

The wounds caused by changing family structures do not automatically disappear with time. However, the story of Jeon Boram and Lee Mi-young shows that these wounds can be acknowledged through each other's language, and that relationships can be rebuilt by accumulating time spent living together. This is why their story resonates more deeply than the figure of 100 million won.