Hur Jae: 'I thought I was king, but I can't even eat without my wife'

Hur Jae, once hailed as the 'President of Basketball,' candidly confessed to being an 'immature husband' who is heavily dependent on his wife. He revealed that while he lived as the center of his family during his younger years, he has come to realize over time that he struggles to manage even daily life without his wife's help.

On the MBN variety program 'Dongchimi,' which aired on the 29th, the married lives of 'immature husbands' were revealed under the theme 'You Need Real Education.' Hur Jae, who initially accepted the appearance believing he would be the one 'educating' the other guests, instead found himself in a situation where he had to reflect on his own lifestyle habits.

Hur Jae revealed that the phrase he hears most often from his wife is, "Please just do it by yourself." Upon hearing this, MC Lee Hyun-yi pointed out, "Isn't that what mothers usually say to elementary school children?" to which Hur Jae responded with laughter.

The married life he disclosed was even more dependent than expected. Hur Jae revealed that in the past, even the marriage registration was handled by his wife alone. He confessed that while he lived thinking, "I am the king and my wife is beneath me" during his youth, he is now realizing that those thoughts were wrong.

Hur Jae's remarks serve as an example that parodies the patriarchal marital relationships that have long been prevalent in Korean society, while simultaneously showing the reversal of roles over time. The contrast between a figure who symbolized strong leadership and authority as an athlete and his image of depending on his spouse's care and management at home drew laughter.

Nagging from his wife regarding his lifestyle habits continued. Hur Jae laughed as he mentioned that the phrase he has been hearing most frequently lately is, "Wash your hands." Although advice was given by those around him to change his habits, he revealed his characteristic stubbornness, saying, "I have my own firm persistence."

Hur Jae's dependent lifestyle was also evident in the process of preparing meals. He said that even when his wife prepares all the side dishes at home, he cannot properly find the necessary side dishes in the refrigerator. He remarked, "Even when I open the refrigerator door, I can't see the side dish containers at all," adding that if he asks his wife to find them, she finds them immediately.

He further explained that while he knows how to use the microwave, he does not know where the dishes to put the food in are located in the cupboard. Ultimately, as the image of a husband who, despite a long marriage, cannot even grasp the location of items in the house was revealed, laughter and sighs erupted simultaneously in the studio.

During his playing days, Hur Jae was a star representing Korean basketball. Having traversed the stages of industrial and professional basketball after attending Chung-Ang University, he was evaluated as a key player who led the golden age of Korean basketball with his outstanding scoring ability, game coordination skills, and strong competitive spirit. He also played for the national team, demonstrating the competitiveness of Korean basketball on the international stage, and expanded his field of activity as a coach and broadcaster after retirement.

In particular, the charisma and strong self-assertion he showed during his active years were synonymous with his identity. While he was a leader responsible for the team's fate on the court, the twist that he is a husband who cannot even find a single side dish in the refrigerator at home became the key comedic point of the broadcast.

Lee Hyung-taik, while watching Hur Jae's case, claimed that among former athletes, he is relatively good at housework. He expressed confidence that he could handle everything from using the washing machine to general household chores, but when asked who handled the marriage registration, he evaded the question by citing overseas tours, drawing laughter.

Kim Yong-man lightened the mood by retorting to Lee Hyung-taik, "You even wore those glasses that make you look smart these days just to appear intelligent."

Comedienne Shim Jin-hwa presented an unusual solution, suggesting that educating a husband also requires technique. She argued that just as one trains a puppy, a husband must also be trained, claiming that rather than repeating trivial nagging, one should firmly restrain him with commands like "No" or "Wait" at decisive moments.

Hur Jae's confession on this day is not merely an episode for entertainment. In a marriage where a couple has lived together for a long time, the balance of roles and power is not fixed but constantly changing. The process by which Hur Jae, who believed he was the center of the household in his youth, came to acknowledge his wife's care and life skills after time has passed, paradoxically shows that the relationship called marriage is maintained through mutual interdependence rather than one-sided authority.

Ultimately, even the 'President of Basketball's' authority holds no weight at home. Hur Jae, who was stronger than anyone on the court, appeared as a husband who is helpless against his wife's command to "do it yourself," revealing the ordinary reality of a star's domestic life through laughter.