Singer and actor Lee Ji-hoon has once again bowed his head in apology over the recent controversy surrounding a daycare center.
On May 27, Lee Ji-hoon took to his social media to express his thoughts, writing, "I spent a long time thinking about what I should say. I sincerely apologize for causing disappointment and discomfort to many people over the daycare center issue." He added, "As parents, we should have been more careful and approached the situation with greater humility. I would like to apologize once again to those who were hurt by our shortcomings."
Previously, Lee's Japanese wife, Ayane, sparked controversy after sharing a post on social media about finding a candy wrapper in their daughter Ru-hee's daycare bag. She wrote that she was "shocked" because they practice "salt-free parenting" (a no-salt diet). Following the post, some netizens pointed out that her comments could be perceived as publicly targeting a specific daycare center or teacher. The criticism intensified as it coincided with growing public concern over conflicts between parents and teachers in South Korea.
Lee Ji-hoon also shared the difficult situation his family has been facing since the controversy. On May 24, he revealed on social media that their daughter, Ru-hee, was hospitalized after contracting both parainfluenza virus and bocavirus simultaneously. He also shared that his wife, Ayane, who is currently pregnant with their second child, was undergoing medical tests due to abnormal thyroid levels.
He confessed, "Ru-hee was hospitalized due to viral infections, and watching our young baby suffer was an incredibly heartbreaking time for us as parents." He continued, "Ayane was also going through a difficult period due to health issues, so both of us were physically and emotionally exhausted."
He also expressed his gratitude, saying, "We earnestly asked for prayers, and so many people cried and prayed with us in ways we never expected. Every single prayer was a source of immense strength for our family."
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)