Hong Hyun-hee breaks into tears over son's room, recalling childhood deprivation

Comedian Hong Hyun-hee shed unexpected tears while considering a home remodel to decorate her son's room. What began as a simple discussion about interior design and furniture layout turned emotional as she recalled the lack of a "complete personal space" during her childhood. Her husband, Jay-ssun, suggested that Hong needs her own independent space even more than their son, Jun-beom.

On the 24th, a video titled "1 Year of Interior Design, Emergency Check! Is the Kid's Room Interior Okay Like This?" was released on the YouTube channel "Hongsseun TV." Hong mentioned that although it has been over a year since they moved in, there is still a space she hasn't been able to touch, and she shared her plans to reorganize the house for her son, Jun-beom.

The core of Hong's plan was to create a space of his own for Jun-beom, who is now four years old. She stated that she wants to create an environment where the child can organize and live independently by separating his study, play, and sleeping areas. She also considered plans to clear the space currently filled with slides and toys and to place a bookshelf and a TV in the living room.

However, Jay-ssun, acting as the interior designer, pointed out a practical issue. Since their current home is a lease (jeonse), there is a burden of having to restore the house to its original state if they make major changes to the walls or structure.

Then, Jay-ssun made an unexpected suggestion. Instead of making the small room next to the entrance Jun-beom's room, he suggested making it Hong's room.

Jay-ssun explained that since he had his own room as a child and even used a bunk bed, he doesn't have a special longing for a private room, but Hong was different. Having talked with his wife about her childhood, he knew she had relatively little experience having "a room of her own," and thus judged that Hong needs an independent space more than Jun-beom.

The room Hong imagined was different from a simple vanity or dressing room. She said she would like to have a "bunk bed," a "desk," and a "treasure chest that can be locked with a key."

She continued, saying she needs a space where she can keep her important belongings and things she considers precious, adding, "I just wish no one would come in." Then, as if suddenly overwhelmed by emotion, she began to cry.

"Isn't it my room? I want to be the owner," Hong said before recalling her childhood. "When I was young, I always had things taken away—rather than being taken, it was more that there was no leeway," she explained, unable to continue speaking. It was a moment where the conversation about a physical room connected with childhood memories, causing suppressed emotions to surface.

Jay-ssun did not view Hong's tears as mere interior design preference. He understood her, saying, "That's why you want to do everything for your son," interpreting that Hong wants to provide Jun-beom with the things she wasn't able to fully enjoy during her own childhood. He added, "I think Hong's room should come first."

However, Hong's choice was different. She drew a line, saying, "I want to do the kid's room," and clarified that her desire for her own room was merely "something she wanted to do back then" and "not now."

At this point, the story of the remodeling expands from a simple rearrangement of living space to a story about a family's psychological memories. A parent's desire to provide a better environment for their child is sometimes a projection of their own childhood memories. Hong's focus on Jun-beom's room also seems related to the parental psychology of wanting to provide their child with what they themselves did not experience.

Conversely, Jay-ssun viewed it as his wife should be allowed to have a space for herself now, rather than trying to compensate for past deprivation through current parenting. The question of "what to do for the child" ultimately returned to the question of "what should the parent enjoy."

Hong Hyun-hee and Jay-ssun married in 2018 and had their son Jun-beom in 2022. Since their marriage, the couple has shared their daily lives with the public through content about interior design, parenting, and their everyday routines. The "Hongsseun TV" channel they currently operate also primarily covers their home, parenting, and overall lifestyle.

What particularly caught attention in this video was not the flashy interior changes, but the scene where Hong opened up about her past through the phrase "my own space" for the first time. A home is not just a physical place where people reside, but also a private domain where an individual's boundaries, autonomy, and memories accumulate.

The couple's plan to make a room for Jun-beom ultimately led to a scene that asks whether Hong also needs "a room of her own."