I Am SOLO stars clash over views on parenthood in Contract Marriage

“Children are a lifelong burden,” and “They are a headache.” Sang Cheol (Kang Jung Hwan) from the 16th season of 'I Am SOLO' revealed his candid thoughts on parenthood, exposing a sharp divide in values with Yeong Suk (Jung Yu Jin) from the 28th season. The two, both of whom have experience with divorce, faced an unexpected clash regarding children on the very first day of their 'Contract Marriage.'

In the episode of 'Contract Marriage' aired on the 28th on KBS Joy and MBC Every1, Sang Cheol and Yeong Suk, both participants from 'I Am SOLO,' entered a contract marriage to experience married life. While the pair had already shown mutual interest and maintained a friendly atmosphere initially, the mood shifted when the topic of children arose.

When Yeong Suk, who is raising two children, asked, “Then do you want children?” Sang Cheol gave an unexpected answer. “I'm not really into having children. It is so difficult to raise them well these days,” he said, adding, “Children are just a lifelong burden.” He did not hide the realistic concerns stemming from his own experiences.

Yeong Suk's perspective was the exact opposite. “I live for my children,” she stated calmly. When Sang Cheol replied, “But isn't it hard sometimes? I can't understand that because I haven't experienced it,” Yeong Suk answered, “I don't dislike that hardship. It's just something that naturally needs to be done.” It was a moment where the view of seeing children as a 'burden' collided head-on with the view of accepting them as an essential part of life.

Yeong Suk further highlighted the difference between the two in a subsequent interview. “It seems our thoughts on children are very different. Most people focus on pets rather than children, but for me, it's children,” she said. She continued, acknowledging Sang Cheol's position while admitting they are on different wavelengths: “He said he 100% cannot empathize with having children, but the situations are different.”

Sang Cheol's remarks did not stop there. Describing children as “a headache” and “a nuisance,” he even mentioned the economic burden. Citing the example that it costs about $680,000 to raise a child until age 16 in the United States, he said, “If you don't have children, you save $680,000.”

However, Sang Cheol also noted that if he actually had his own child, he might feel entirely different emotions. “Maybe it's because I don't have children. If I had a child, I would be incredibly attached,” he said, adding that his older brother even told him, “You'll be extremely fussy once you have your own kid.” Even so, he once again revealed his unique values by saying, “Even if I have a child, I'll tell them to be good to the dog. If they aren't good to the dog, I'll scold them.”

The fact that the two are interested in each other is a separate matter from whether their actual married life is compatible. For Yeong Suk, who already has children, views on parenting are not just a preference but a matter directly linked to her life priorities. Attention is now focused on how the two will bridge this gap through their contract marriage.