Broadcaster Lee Ji-hee opens up about financial hardship and health struggles

Broadcaster Lee Ji-hee revealed on a YouTube channel released on the 2nd that she faced extreme rheumatoid arthritis pain and economic instability during her hiatus. The former 1997 MBC "Radio Miss DJ Contest" grand prize winner described how her physical condition made basic tasks like brushing teeth difficult and prevented her from finding new work.

Broadcaster Lee Ji-hee has opened up about the financial hardships and the pain of battling rheumatoid arthritis she endured after her sudden disappearance from the broadcasting industry.

On the YouTube channel "Lee Sung-mi's Can't Go," a video titled "Her successful broadcasting career suddenly stopped one day; Broadcaster Lee Ji-hee's restarted life" was released on the 2nd. Lee Ji-hee, who made a grand entrance into the broadcasting industry after winning the grand prize at the 1997 MBC "Radio Miss DJ Contest," vanished from the scene at some point. Reflecting on her life after a long hiatus, she candidly confessed the economic difficulties she had to endure.

Lee Seong-mi empathized with how frustrating the financial hardship must have been, stating, "I felt that it's not about being happy if you have one month's worth of extra money, but rather wishing you had two months' worth." She noted how desperate one can feel for even the relief of not having to worry about the immediate next month. In response, Lee Ji-hee revealed that her reality was even more precarious than that.

"It wasn't even a generous month's worth; it was only when I was right at the edge, or even past the edge and gasping for breath, that I would get that much, and that was the hardest part," Lee Ji-hee recalled. During her most difficult economic period, her daughter was in her third year of high school. "While I was walking a tightrope month by month economically, my child was a high school senior and wanted to study, but I couldn't let her," she said, expressing the helplessness she felt as a parent.

In particular, the moment she had to be cautious even about her daughter purchasing workbooks left a deep wound on Lee Ji-hee. "The child grew up early and said she would try to study on her own. Then, at some point, she started walking on eggshells around me," she said. She continued, "She would put workbooks in a cart, and when it came time to pay 300,000 won for them, I was supposed to do it, but she was walking on eggshells. It broke my heart when she asked me, 'Can I buy this?'" The reality of feeling burdened by the need to provide even the most basic support for her child's education made things even harder for her.

The economic difficulties coincided with health issues. Lee Ji-hee revealed that she suffered from extreme pain due to rheumatoid arthritis at the time. "It was so painful. For about a year, it was truly so painful," she said, noting her surprise that her weight could increase by 15kg within a single month. When the rheumatoid arthritis was at its worst, her thumbs and index fingers swelled to twice their size, making it difficult even to bend her fingers.

Her daily life was essentially paralyzed. Because she could not move her hands properly, even brushing her teeth was difficult, and she struggled with basic hygiene to the point of using salt as a substitute. It was impossible to use chopsticks, so she had to use a fork when eating. Her explanation that the period of most intense pain lasted about six months illustrates the severity of her struggle at the time.

After her broadcasting activities ceased, she tried to find other work, but her health held her back. "They wouldn't hire me for broadcasting, and since I couldn't use my hands, I couldn't do anything," Lee Ji-hee lamented. Even when trying to find new jobs, her options were limited due to her physical condition, which prevented her from using her hands properly, ultimately forcing her to deal with both an economic crisis and illness simultaneously. Her confession, transitioning from a successful broadcaster to a person worrying about livelihood and health, revealed the reality hidden behind her hiatus.

Read the original (Korean)