At 45, Shin Bong-sun Says She Is Preparing for a Happy Life on Her Own

Comedian Shin Bong-sun spoke candidly about how she is preparing for later life, how she now views marriage and what her current daily life means to her. By sharing the financial planning she has maintained over many years and the realistic life plans she is building for herself, Shin drew sympathy from viewers with a clear picture of an independent life.

Shin appeared as a special MC on the SBS entertainment program "My Little Old Boy," which aired on July 5. During the broadcast, she joined the studio conversation and discussed a range of personal topics in a frank and humorous way.

MC Seo Jang-hoon opened the discussion by noting Shin's age and her dating history. "I heard that Shin Bong-sun is now 45 and that her last relationship was in her 30s," he said, adding that people had apparently stopped offering to set her up on blind dates once she entered her 40s.

Shin responded by looking back on how people around her treated the subject when she was younger. "Even in my 30s, people would introduce me to others, saying I had an image that was not pretty but cute," she said. "But once I entered my 40s, the mood changed to where even bringing up that kind of talk could feel rude to the other person."

She then added a self-deprecating joke in her trademark upbeat style. Shin said that at times she feels as if she is no longer being placed in the category of either man or woman, but simply in a separate category called "human," drawing laughter from the cast.

Shin also spoke honestly about her views on marriage. "If marriage were something that could happen through my will alone, I would have worked harder at it than anyone," she said. "But in the end, it is something that requires winning one person's heart, and I began to think it was a waste to spend all my time only on that process." Her remarks suggested that she places more weight on designing her own life proactively than on treating marriage as a required condition of life.

She then shared specific details of how she has prepared for retirement and long-term stability. Shin explained that from her late 20s, she paid 1 million won every month into a pension savings plan for 10 years, and that the plan recently reached maturity. She said she is now continuing to look into a variety of financial products and asset management options.

Shin added that she is "practicing living happily and joyfully alone." In doing so, she described a present life in which she is preparing not only for economic security, but also for psychological and emotional independence. Her comments naturally showed that she has steadily put long-term asset management and retirement planning into practice over many years.

She also shared an episode about how her family has reacted to her situation. Shin said her mother used to tell her, "There is not much to men. If he is kind, marry him." These days, however, her mother jokes, "Who would be able to accept your personality?"

The conversation continued with another story that made the studio laugh. Shin recalled that while watching television, her mother once asked her, "What about freezing your eggs?" Shin said that at first, she thought her mother was literally talking about some kind of refrigerator-like product.

Shin added that she believes her mother's comments came from a place of concern. She said her mother seemed to be worried about the possibility that Shin might one day end up living alone, and Shin made clear that she understands the sincerity behind that parental concern.

Through this appearance, Shin Bong-sun formed a point of connection with viewers by speaking openly not only about her realistic perspective on dating and marriage, but also about the financial management and retirement preparations she has continued for a long time. Her approach to building a stable life and finding happiness for herself, regardless of whether she marries, stood out as a positive message for many viewers.