Actor Lee Chang-hoon regrets overprotecting his only daughter

During a broadcast of TV CHOSUN's "Perfect Life" on the 21st, actor Lee Chang-hoon expressed regret that his high school sophomore daughter cannot use a microwave because he and his wife, Kim Mi-jeong, performed most tasks for her.

Actor Lee Chang-hoon expressed late regret over the fact that his only daughter, currently a high school sophomore, cannot even properly use a microwave. In an attempt to raise his only child with great care, he performed most tasks for her, only to realize that such affection may have deprived her of opportunities to develop independence. His honest confession, made as a father reaching his 60s, revealed both his deep affection for his family and the realistic concerns regarding parental overprotection.

During the broadcast of TV CHOSUN's "Perfect Life" on the 21st, Lee Chang-hoon and his wife, who is 17 years his junior, Kim Mi-jeong, appeared to share stories about their daily family life. The couple spoke candidly about their extraordinary affection for their daughter, Hyo-ju, and how excessive care can impact a child's growth.

The couple also revealed how they met. Lee stated that he first met Kim Mi-jeong at a Christmas party in 2007 when he was 41 and she was 24. He explained that he had spent a year praying for a spouse by imagining a specific ideal type, and upon meeting Kim Mi-jeong, he fell in love at first sight because she matched 80% of his ideal image.

Kim Mi-jeong shared that she initially gave Lee her phone number without knowing his age, only to be surprised when she found out later. However, she added that she was impressed by his handsome appearance due to his youthful looks. The couple married in 2008 and had their daughter, Hyo-ju, the following year.

The conversation centered on Lee's excessive care for his daughter. Kim Mi-jeong expressed concern that her husband tends to do most things for her or their daughter whenever they attempt something; while she is grateful, she worried this could weaken their independence in the long term. She noted that actions started from a desire to care for the family were inadvertently reducing the opportunities for them to do things themselves.

Lee also observed such behavior in his daughter's daily life. He explained that when she bought a watch, she did not know how to set the time, being unfamiliar with the simple operation of pulling and turning the crown. Kim Mi-jeong shared a similar experience, stating that when she asked their daughter to use the microwave, the girl did not know how to operate the machine.

Kim Mi-jeong revealed that she asked their daughter, "You're a high school sophomore, and you can't even use a microwave?" To which the daughter reportedly replied in essence that since her mother and father had always done everything for her and never taught her directly, she didn't know what to do when suddenly asked to do it alone. While these were minor household tasks to the parents, they were tasks the daughter had never had the opportunity to learn.

Upon hearing his daughter's words, Lee Chang-hoon expressed regret, saying, "We made many mistakes." He explained the reason, stating, "Because she is our only daughter and so precious." He admitted that because she was his only child born at a later age, he had a strong desire to do everything for her, but acknowledged that this affection had replaced the process where the child should have encountered and learned things herself.

Kim Mi-jeong understood her husband's feelings, noting, "It happens when you have a daughter late in life." Hearing this, broadcaster Hyun Young empathized with the parents' hearts, saying, "How lovely must she be?" The couple's conversation revealed that while love for a precious child is a natural emotion, having parents solve all discomforts and difficulties does not always lead to good results for the child.

Overprotection of a child does not stem from a lack of love, but can occur when the way love is expressed is excessive. When parents step in first, a child may avoid immediate difficulties, but in doing so, they lose the chance to try, fail, and become accustomed to things themselves. The confession from Lee Chang-hoon and his wife prompted reflection on the need to wait for and teach a child to do things themselves, rather than withdrawing affection.

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