Actress Gu Hee-ah reveals estrangement from parents over embezzled wedding funds

Gu Hee-ah, who captured hearts with her explosive energy on 'National Singing Contest,' has opened up about the painful family history hidden behind her bright stage persona. The story of a woman who dreamed of being an actress, navigated marriage, childcare, postpartum depression, and deep conflict with her parents, only to find healing through the stage again, has deeply moved viewers.

On the MBN variety show 'Dongchimi,' which aired on the 25th, Gu appeared during a summer special titled 'The Tale of the Rabbit and the Turtle' to speak candidly about the major ups and downs of her life and how she overcame them.

Gu first explained how she ended up on the 'National Singing Contest' stage.

“When I had three children and suffered from very severe postpartum depression, I overcame it through Zumba,” she said. “The Zumba instructors told me to try 'National Singing Contest.' The resentment of household labor and the stress of parenting burst out like magma. I expressed all my emotions through movement, and that year, I swept all the popularity awards and even won the Grand Prize.”

Her performances, loved for their flashy energy, were more than just a display of a “joyful mother.” They were the result of sublimating long-suppressed emotions and wounds into art.

Gu also revealed her background as a musical and theater actress.

“I was originally an actress. I pursued it because I wanted to perform on the theater stage,” she said. “However, after meeting my husband, I got married and pregnant within three weeks, and I had to put my dreams aside when we moved to Gunsan.”

She continued, “I lived as a housewife for 10 years. I felt disconnected from the world. I felt as if Gunsan was my place of exile,” expressing the profound loneliness and sense of loss she felt during those years.

Following her marriage, she had to endure the physical and emotional toll of raising three children.

“Along with one miscarriage, I had three C-sections at two-year intervals. I felt cut off from the outside world, and my postpartum depression recurred,” Gu confessed. “The depression was very severe.”

During this period, her relationship with her biological parents reached a breaking point.

“Even now, I am estranged from my biological parents,” Gu revealed, touching upon wounds from her childhood.

“My father was very strict, and there was domestic violence. I grew up in a difficult environment,” she said. “My father opposed my acting. However, I fought to enter the theater and film department and began my career as an actress on my own strength.”

The most significant wound, however, remains an incident involving her wedding gift money.

“I was raised by my grandmother. Because we had no money, I asked my father to lend me just 1,000,000 won for my wedding funds, but he said he couldn't because he needed dental implants,” she confessed. “But I later found out that my grandmother had actually given me several million won as my wedding gift, and my father had intercepted it.”

She continued, “After having three children and finally learning the truth, I was left wondering, ‘What is a parent?’” as she shed tears.

She also could not hide her longing for her biological mother.

“My mother was gaslighted by my father and could never do anything he forbade,” Gu said. “Even when I had to be rushed to the emergency room with a 40-degree fever due to pyelonephritis after my second child, I couldn't get any help.”

She sobbed, adding, “I miss my mother so much, but the circumstances make it impossible to see her. It has been so hard.”

Ultimately, the stage became Gu's lifeline.

“I am releasing all of this through the stage,” she stated. “Someone might look at me and say I am vulgar or excessive, but to me, the stage is my strength to live.”

She also confessed to the depths of her past depression.

“When my depression was at its worst, I used to collect sleeping pills,” Gu admitted. “But now, I am just grateful that I can perform on stage while taking care of my three children.”

She added, “I am grateful that my husband and parents-in-law support me, especially since I feel like I cannot even claim to have a biological family. I hope to resolve things with my parents someday. For now, I will do my best on the stage and focus on raising my children well.”

Gu's confession was more than just a story of family conflict; it was the journey of an actress who set aside her dreams to live as a mother, only to reclaim herself through art.

The energy she pours into her performances is not merely for entertainment, but a testament to what she has endured. By turning her pain into dance and song, Gu is transforming her scars into a source of strength for others.

Following the broadcast, fellow guests including Lee Hong-ryul, Lee Hyun Yi, and Kim Myung-sun expressed their empathy and support. Gu Hee-ah demonstrated that life is not about perfection, but the strength to rise again despite the scars.