On the January 25 episode of SBS’ "My Little Old Boy" Yoon Shi-yoon marked a milestone close to home: his mother finally received her middle school diploma―44 years after she first left school.
Yoon didn’t just show up to cheer. He brought the production vibes, stepping in as photographer to shoot graduation portraits for his mom and her classmates, drawing smiles all around.
Several classmates admitted they only realized after watching "My Little Old Boy" that Yoon was her son. His mother explained why she had kept it quiet: “Because my son is a celebrity, I worried. I didn’t want to show that I hadn’t even finished middle school. I was afraid people would judge him because of me.”
Her friends pushed back with tears and praise. “He grew up so well it makes us emotional,” one said. “He understood everything and still encouraged you to go back to school―that’s a good son.”
Yoon also prepared a handmade yearbook for his mom and her friends―and one more surprise. Remembering how black bean noodles were a special-occasion treat back in the day, he cooked an old-school jjajangmyeon lunch for the post-ceremony feast.
“It’s got that perfect wok-fired flavor,” his mom said, digging in with her son.
She reflected on why graduation meant so much. With just two months left in middle school, she had dropped out and moved to Seoul. “Watching my friends graduate while I couldn’t―it hurt,” she recalled.
Now, she says the regret is gone. “Going back to school was the right choice. I want to show my diploma to my father,” she added, noting he worried about her unfinished schooling until the very end.
Yoon met her emotion with warmth. “Mom, it was just a very long vacation,” he joked gently. “I’m proud of you.”
She confessed the guilt she’s carried: “I always say I’m sorry for being your mom. I was scared I might hurt your future, even a little. That was my biggest fear.”
“You’re a great mentor in life,” Yoon replied. “You passed down courage and grit. I’m thankful you’re my mom.”
To cap the day, Yoon gifted her an AI-crafted yearbook using her 9th-grade photo. In a message to her present self, her teenage image “wrote”: “Thank you for becoming a wonderful adult and an amazing mom. I’m proud of you.” The note brought her to tears.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Hyo-jung)