Son Ye Jin reveals firm parenting rules for her son

Actress Son Ye Jin has revealed her strict parenting principles regarding her son. While Son is known to the public for her elegant and soft image, she explained that at home, rather than unconditionally granting everything her child wants, she raises him by establishing clear standards and adhering to them.

On the 88th episode of the JTBC variety program 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator since 2014' aired on the 13th, Son appeared as a guest and spoke about the daily lives of her husband, Hyun Bin, and their son. As it was her first variety show appearance in about four years, she naturally shared stories about her private life, including cooking, eating habits, and parenting, rather than just discussing her work.

The most eye-catching part of the broadcast was the discussion regarding her son's appetite and discipline. Son introduced that her son likes bread made by mixing oatmeal with milk and egg wash and adding ingredients like sweet pumpkin, corn, and apples, and surprisingly, he also eats foods like pancakes and rice cakes well. She explained that his preference for clean, simple flavors seems to resemble his husband, Hyun Bin.

While the foods her child likes suggest relatively modest tastes, Son's parenting principles were quite firm. When MC Kim Sung-joo asked if her son ever throws a tantrum asking for candy, Son replied, "Even if he asks, if I don't give it to him, he accepts it." This means that parents do not react immediately to a child's tantrums to get what they want.

When Ahn Jung-hwan, a veteran parent, reacted by saying, "He might lie down on the floor like that," Son explained her parenting style even more candidly. She stated, "We are raising him very strictly," and added that if he throws a tantrum, "he must be punished." Although the conversation was exchanged with laughter during the broadcast, it clearly revealed that Son places importance on the necessity of certain rules and control in raising her child.

However, the expression "must be punished" should not be immediately interpreted as physical punishment or corporal discipline. Son did not explain specific disciplinary methods or physical punishment during the broadcast. The core lies in her parenting view that parents do not accept every demand just because a child asks, but rather set clear boundaries.

These remarks are also partially connected to the family stories Son has revealed. On the show, she introduced her daily life of playing role-play with her son and reading books to him before sleep. As it was also reported that Hyun Bin reads books to their son, the specific ways the couple participates in parenting were naturally revealed.

In particular, Son has shown an unexpectedly realistic side regarding parenting. In this broadcast, she revealed the side dishes she makes herself and the food her family usually eats, and mentioned that she eats the food left behind by her child because it would be a waste to throw it away. Contrary to her image as a glamorous star, the image of an ordinary parent taking care of daily life at home was highlighted.

Son's 'doting' side regarding her son's appearance also became a hot topic. When asked what she would do if the child wanted to become an actor in the future, she joked, "With looks like this, it might be hard not to become an actor." Afterwards, she showed a reflective side, noting that she felt she had bragged about her child too much.

Ultimately, rather than defining Son's parenting as 'unconditionally strict,' it is closer to a method that emphasizes both affection and rules. While playing with the child and reading books to him, she does not change her mind regarding things the parents do not allow, such as candy, even if the child throws a tantrum.

A star's parenting views easily become a topic of conversation for the public. Especially in the case of a top star couple like Son Ye Jin and Hyun Bin, who have minimized exposure of their private lives, attention is inevitably focused on even a small remark regarding their child. To that extent, a parent's single word can go beyond personal parenting experiences to become a subject of public interpretation and evaluation.

What Son showed in this broadcast is far from being an 'extreme mother.' Rather, it is closer to an attitude of providing sufficient affection while not letting the parent's established standards waver according to the child's demands. This is why the unexpected firmness revealed in the private side of the actress, who is remembered for her soft image, caught the interest of viewers.

While Son still meets the public through her work as an actress, her life outside of acting has become an inseparable part of her image following her marriage and childbirth. This appearance on 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator since 2014' went beyond showing the daily life of a glamorous star, offering a glimpse into Son's philosophy as a mother.