Lee Yo-won admits leaving two younger children with eldest child

During the October 31 broadcast of 'Mr. House Husband' Season 2, actress Lee Yo-won revealed she left her two younger children in the care of her eldest child during a 21-day and 20-night overseas trip. She joked that the arrangement was acceptable because her eldest child is an adult who must "earn their keep" at home.

Actress Lee Yo-won revealed an anecdote where she left her two younger children in the care of her eldest child while traveling abroad for 21 days and 20 nights. Having previously criticized parents who shift the burden of childcare onto their eldest children, her admission that she applied a different standard to her own child brought laughter to the studio. When pressed by Eun Ji-won, Lee Yo-won responded with a witty joke.

During the broadcast of the KBS 2TV variety program 'Mr. House Husband' Season 2 on October 31, the pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare stories of the couple Eun Ga-eun and Park Hyun-ho were discussed. As the conversation touched upon the difficulties of raising children born in consecutive years, it naturally shifted to the role of the eldest child, noting that while raising them together is difficult, the childcare burden can be concentrated in a short period.

During the episode, Eun Ji-won asked, "Once the eldest grows up, can we leave things to them a bit?" Given that eldest siblings often care for younger siblings, the question aimed to see if a portion of the childcare burden could be assigned to the eldest to ease the parents' load.

Lee Yo-won responded firmly. "What sin did the eldest commit? Why leave it to the eldest?" she asked, raising her voice. "Why should they have to look after a younger sibling when they don't want to? They are at an age where they have their own life, too." She clearly expressed her belief that it is unfair to demand childcare simply because a child is the eldest.

However, upon hearing Lee Yo-won's statement, Eun Ji-won immediately brought up an unexpected "report." "Wait, I just received a report. That you went on a trip after leaving the kids with the eldest," he said, mentioning Lee Yo-won's past actions. He continued to press her, asking, "How is that any different from what I just said? Did you even go on an overseas trip for 21 days and 20 nights?" causing the studio to erupt in laughter.

The situation reversed when it was revealed that Lee Yo-won, who had been criticizing the attitude of parents leaving siblings in the care of the eldest, had actually gone on a long-term overseas trip. Rather than denying Eun Ji-won's rebuttal, Lee Yo-won accepted it with laughter, showing her characteristic composure.

She joked, "Because the eldest is an adult. They are an adult and should earn their keep at home." It was a witty explanation suggesting a distinction between forcing a minor to care for a sibling and an adult child living at home performing certain roles for the family. She concluded the situation with the joke that if they want to live in her house, they must "earn their keep."

Lee Yo-won married golfer Park Jin-woo in 2003 and has one son and two daughters. As a mother of three, she emphasized the independent life and individual rights of her eldest child while also showing a realistic side by expecting certain responsibilities from an adult child as a family member.

In particular, this conversation playfully twisted the debate surrounding the so-called "sacrifice of the eldest" regarding the excessive responsibility placed on them during the parenting process. The humor was created by the intersection of Lee Yo-won's conviction that a child's childhood and personal time should not be sacrificed for parental convenience, and her joke that an adult child should play a certain part within the family.

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