Lee Ji-hyun Faces Backlash After Criticizing 'My Golden Kids' Production Team Over Malicious Comments Aimed at Her Child

Lee Ji-hyun, a broadcaster and former member of the K-pop girl group Jewelry, has expressed her disappointment regarding the filming methods and editing used by the production team of Channel A's parenting reality show, 'My Golden Kids' (Yozum Yuk-a - Geumjjokgatun Nae Saekki), during her previous appearance.

While she sought help to resolve her son's behavioral issues, she revealed that the subsequent broadcast led to unexpected malicious comments and criticism directed not just at her, but at her child as well. However, her confession has drawn mixed reactions from viewers, with some arguing that it is inappropriate to blame the production team after having received help through the program.

Appearing on the YouTube channel 'Saeropgehasoseo' on the 9th, Lee Ji-hyun provided detailed accounts of her experience on 'My Golden Kids'. She explained that while filming was conducted to accurately identify the problems of her son, Woo-gyeong, the initial stages did not reveal enough issues as expected.

According to Lee, the production staff suggested at the time that they needed to "stimulate the child to pinpoint the exact problem since the current situation wasn't showing enough," which led to actual situations during filming where her son was provoked. She claims that the broadcast focused heavily on these specific scenes, portraying them in a way that differed significantly from what she had anticipated.

The real struggle began after the broadcast. Lee stated that while she could endure some level of criticism as a celebrity, the profanity and malicious comments directed at her young son were unbearable. She expressed deep guilt, feeling as though she had wounded her child by choosing to appear on the show to help him improve, describing the emotional pain as "feeling like my flesh is being torn apart."

Indeed, the behavior of Woo-gyeong shown on 'My Golden Kids' was quite intense. The broadcast featured scenes of him using profanity and being violent toward his mother during conflicts over mobile phone usage. Dr. Oh Eun-young, a renowned child psychiatrist, analyzed that many of his behaviors could not be explained simply by ADHD symptoms alone. This eventually led to a long-term project where Dr. Oh provided direct on-site coaching.

Lee Ji-hyun's decision to appear on the show was driven by necessity rather than simple entertainment. She shared that she faced significant challenges in raising her son, who had been diagnosed with ADHD and was even forcibly expelled from his kindergarten. As a single parent, she was desperate for professional guidance and viewed receiving Dr. Oh Eun-young's solutions as the primary reason for her participation.

Dr. Oh Eun-young's role in the program was significant. Rather than labeling Woo-gyeong's actions as mere "mischief," she comprehensively examined issues such as anxiety, sensitivity, and the interactions formed during the parenting process, advising Lee that she needed to reclaim her authority in discipline. This led to the expansion of the program into a long-term project involving direct field guidance from Dr. Oh.

Lee's comments raise a paradoxical question: for families standing before cameras to receive professional help, is a broadcast a space for therapeutic intervention, or is it merely entertainment content requiring ratings and buzz? The boundary between the two remains blurred.

Parenting observation shows differ in nature from general entertainment programs. There is a heavy social responsibility when transitioning from exposing the private lives of adults to revealing the behaviors, emotions, and internal family conflicts of minors. Specifically, when a young child—who cannot fully control their choices during filming—becomes the target of public opinion, the traces left by the broadcast can remain for a long time.

Conversely, some point out that it is difficult to judge the entire intention or editing process of the production team based solely on Lee's claims. The broadcast included not only the child's problematic behavior but also Dr. Oh's analysis, solutions, advice on Lee's parenting style, and the subsequent process of change. It is also difficult to deny that the program aimed to provide practical help to Lee and her son.

In fact, Lee Ji-hyun continued to implement changes, such as starting exercise with her son, and shared the process of his improvement through Dr. Oh's solutions. In past interviews, she mentioned that although the treatment process was difficult, her son had changed significantly and they were spending happy times together.

Nevertheless, regardless of the positive outcomes of the broadcast, the issue of malicious comments directed at her child cannot be offset by labeling it a "success" of the program. If a gap exists between the intended message of the broadcast and the scenes consumed by viewers, it is difficult to hold the responsibility solely on the individual participant.

Lee Ji-hyun also shared a tearful anecdote from a trip to the United States with her son, where Woo-gyeong asked, "Mom, if we go to America, will people not know I'm a 'Geumjjok-i'?" This highlights the severity of the aftermath, as the child was conscious enough to distinguish between his reality and the image projected by the broadcast, moving beyond simply accepting it as a memory.

Meanwhile, online criticism has emerged, with some saying, "It is inconsistent to criticize the production team now after receiving help through the broadcast," and others questioning if this is simply reviving the memories of the broadcast for the child. The controversy has expanded from the production's filming methods to a debate over Lee's own statements.

However, this should not be interpreted as a justification for the malicious comments and ridicule directed at a child. Regardless of the intentions behind the production, the secondary damage that can occur when a minor's behavior is made a subject of public evaluation should be viewed as a separate issue involving the participant, the production team, and the viewers.

Lee Ji-hyun married a non-celebrity in 2013 and had one son and one daughter, divorced in 2016, remarried in 2017, and divorced again in 2020. Having raised two children alone through two marriages, she has frequently shared the realistic difficulties of parenting and has recently expanded her activities from a broadcaster to a business owner by challenging herself in running a hair salon.

Ultimately, the essence of this controversy does not lie solely in whether Lee Ji-hyun "attacked" the production team. It asks where the line is drawn between therapeutic observation and entertainment stimulation when families in need are placed before a camera, and who should be responsible for the wounds left on a child after the broadcast ends.

As parenting reality shows continue to grow, that question becomes even heavier. If a broadcast is truly for the child, it must consider not only ratings and buzz but also what mechanisms are in place to protect the child so they can live their lives fully after the cameras stop rolling.