Heo Yang-im's approach to 13-year-old Seung-jae's education

As Seung-jae, the son of former Sechs Kies member Ko Ji-yong and doctor Heo Yang-im, turns 13, a glimpse into his weekend routine has been revealed, showing him immersed in homework in a hospital lounge alongside his mother. Even with a fireworks festival approaching, the sight of the mother and son prioritizing tasks over play has drawn attention to the growth of Seung-jae, who was once a beloved figure on television during his childhood.

On the 5th, Heo shared scenes of her weekend with her son by posting several photos on her SNS. She wrote, “A storm of homework time before going to the fireworks festival. Though his lips are pouting, he knows that playing will be more enjoyable if he works hard first,” adding, “Today, the staff lounge has temporarily transformed into a library.”

The released photos show Seung-jae studying with books and workbooks spread out in the staff lounge of the hospital where Heo works. The space, usually reserved for the rest of the staff, essentially turned into a temporary study room for the day to tackle his homework.

What particularly caught the eye was that Heo also sat beside her son with a book in hand. While Seung-jae worked through his workbooks, his mother spent her own reading time, naturally staying by his side. Rather than unilaterally rushing him to study, the way she shares time by engaging in her own work reveals the intimate relationship between mother and son.

At 13, children stand at the boundary between childhood and adolescence, a period when lifestyle habits and academic attitudes are firmly established. Education during this stage is less about injecting large amounts of learning and more about fostering the ability to manage one's own tasks and balance leisure with responsibility. Heo's explanation that “playing will be more enjoyable if he works hard first” aligns with these lifestyle principles.

Seung-jae has been a familiar face to the public since his early childhood. While appearing on the KBS 2TV variety show 'The Return of Superman' with his father, Ko, the young Seung-jae's daily life and the bond between father and son were revealed to viewers. Having been loved for his honest and innocent demeanor typical of children his age, Seung-jae is one of the few celebrity second-generation stars whose growth process has been naturally recorded through broadcasting.

His father, Ko, was a member of Sechs Kies, a group that represented Korean popular music in the late 1990s. Sechs Kies is considered a group that, along with H.O.T., symbolizes the first generation of the idol industry. Following the group's disbandment, Ko effectively halted his entertainment activities and led a new life as a businessman. He later reappeared before the public after appearing on 'The Return of Superman' with his son.

Heo is also an individual who is difficult to describe merely as a member of a celebrity family. She is known as a doctor who majored in medicine at Ewha Womans University and completed master's and doctoral courses in family medicine and preventive medicine, and has been active in various fields including broadcasting and lectures based on her expertise. As both parents have built professional careers in their respective fields, it appears that elements of academics and self-management have naturally become important in Seung-jae's growth process.

Recently, there has also been a change in the family structure. Ko and Heo married in 2013 and had their son Seung-jae the following year, but they recently announced their divorce after 11 years of marriage. It is reported that Heo has taken on the responsibility of raising their son. Even as the family structure has changed, Heo continues to show her current life by steadily sharing daily moments with her son through SNS.

These photos are not of a grand educational program or a special event. It is a very ordinary weekend scene of doing homework with books spread out in a hospital staff lounge. However, the gap between the past and present is clearly visible in the fact that Seung-jae, who stood before television cameras since childhood, has now grown into a 13-year-old adolescent who is learning to balance his studies and leisure on his own.

While his heart waits for the fireworks festival just like any other peer, finishing his homework first is the priority. The brief daily life shared by Heo demonstrates a parental attitude of teaching responsibility through living, rather than through flashy educational methods.

Above all, the sight of Heo reading a book next to her son as he does his homework leaves a stronger educational message than simply saying, 'Study.' Ultimately, more important than the background of being a celebrity's child is how one fills their own day. The most striking part of this recent update is how Seung-jae, once the cute child on screen, is growing into a teenager who is learning to navigate his own life and studies.