Ham So-won Responds to Criticism Regarding 'Tying Daughter's Hair' by Saying, "It's Due to Forehead Pain"

Broadcaster Ham So-won directly responded to a netizen's criticism regarding her daughter Hye-jeong's hairstyle. While the advice suggested that since she is a girl, it would be nice to tie her hair prettily or use a headband, Ham So-won expressed her intention to respect the child's wishes, stating that her daughter dislikes having her hair tied. Her explanation that she prioritizes the child's comfort over a parent's desire to dress them up is drawing interest regarding her parenting style.

Recently, Ham So-won shared updates on her daughter Hye-jeong's recent life on her SNS, writing, "After seeing a text that Hye-jeong received good grades, [Jin Hua] called in 0.1 seconds and rushed over immediately." The released video captures Jin Hua rushing to meet Hye-jeong, who achieved good results on a Chinese character proficiency test. The father's affection for his child was clearly evident in his appearance as he rushed to celebrate his daughter's achievement.

In the video, Hye-jeong caught eyes with her chubby cheeks and adorable atmosphere. Interest from netizens gathered as not only her admirable achievement in the exam but also her natural daily life were revealed. However, the reactions to the post did not stop at the daughter's grades and the family's affectionate appearance. An unexpected conversation followed when a netizen left a cautious piece of advice regarding Hye-jeong's hairstyle.

The netizen first expressed support for Ham So-won by saying, "I am always rooting for you," before writing, "Since she is a girl, it would be nice to tie her hair prettily or at least give her a headband. It's the mother's sense, so it's a bit disappointing." They added, "I am worried she might face resentment later, since the video will follow her for a lifetime." While the intention was to suggest paying a bit more attention since the child's current appearance remains online, the comment could also be read as a question of how much parents should manage a child's appearance and grooming.

Ham So-won did not let this pass and responded directly. She explained, "I want to do that too. But Hye-jeong hates having her hair tied." She added, "I understand Hye-jeong's feelings. Even for me, if I tie my hair, the forehead area gets pulled and hurts." This implies that she is not simply indifferent to grooming the child, but rather does not force it because she knows the discomfort felt when tying hair.

Ham So-won made it clear that she is respecting her daughter's choice, saying, "I just tell her to do whatever is comfortable for her." While tying hair neatly or using accessories might look prettier to an adult's eyes, she means she will not force that choice if the child actually feels discomfort. Especially since a young child's appearance and clothing are areas where a parent's taste is easily reflected, this response can also be seen as a parenting attitude of waiting so that the child can express their own opinions regarding their body and preferences.

A child's appearance revealed online is easily recorded, and parents sometimes receive evaluations from strangers regarding even minor appearances or behaviors. Even if the advice comes from a place of worrying about the child, the standard is not necessarily comfortable for the child. Rather than reacting emotionally to the criticism regarding her daughter's hairstyle, Ham So-won stated her choice by explaining the specific reason why the child dislikes having her hair tied.

Ham So-won married actor Jin Hua in 2018, overcoming an 18-year age difference, and had a daughter, Hye-jeong. The two continued their married life but announced their divorce in 2022. Ham So-won, who has continued to communicate with the public by revealing her daughter's daily life even after that, has once again made people think about what choice parents should make between grooming a child prettily and respecting the child's wishes by directly answering the question regarding the hairstyle.

Read the original (Korean)