Lee Sang-hwa visits injured father-in-law in Japan while Kangnam works
Former national speed skater Lee Sang-hwa visited her in-laws in Japan with gifts for her father-in-law, who had injured his hip. She said she was relieved to find him healthier than expected but wished she could communicate better in Japanese.
Former national speed skater Lee Sang-hwa visited her injured father-in-law in Japan without her husband, singer and television personality Kangnam, taking a subway journey with bags of gifts while he attended official engagements.
The visit appeared in a video released on the 15th on Kangnam’s YouTube channel, Neighborhood Friend Kangnami, titled “A Three-Night, Four-Day Work Trip to Japan With Sang-hwa, the Queen of Support!” Lee Sang-hwa had accompanied her husband to Japan, where he served as a special commentator for KBS for the opening ceremony of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games.
While Kangnam carried out his official schedule, Lee Sang-hwa made time to visit her in-laws. She packed seaweed, fermented soybean powder, red ginseng, traditional Korean sweets and yakgwa pastries for her father-in-law. Carrying the heavy load on the subway proved awkward when a paper bag tore, but she continued on her way to deliver the gifts herself.
When the production crew asked whether everything was for her father-in-law, she replied, “Yes. When my husband has work, I go and pay my respects.” She explained that they had arrived too late the previous day, adding, “I’m going to give these to him now.”
Lee Sang-hwa also disclosed that her father-in-law had injured his hip after taking a wrong step while walking. The visit gave her an opportunity to see him in person and check on his condition. After returning, she expressed relief: “Thankfully, he was healthier than I expected.”
Her limited Japanese left her with some regret about their conversation. “It made me think I need to study. I ended up speaking Korean,” she admitted. Although she had delivered her gifts and reassured herself about his health, she felt the limits of her ability to communicate with him.
Lee Sang-hwa married Kangnam in 2019, and the couple have since shared their daily lives through television and YouTube. This latest video drew viewers’ attention to her thoughtful preparations for her father-in-law and her willingness to carry the heavy gifts to see him while her husband was working.
Oh Seo-yoon reports for Mediafine Global, mainly covering K-Variety and also writing on K-drama, K-pop and K-movie.
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