[SBS Star] Cha Ye Ryun Opens Up About Feeling Lonely Due to Joo Sang Wook's Lack of Empathy

Actress Cha Ye Ryun shared that she sometimes feels lonely because her husband, actor Joo Sang Wook, struggles to relate to her feelings.

On December 30 episode of Channel A's television show "Table for Four", consultant Roh Hee-young appeared and invited her close friends Joo Sang Wook, Cha Ye Ryun, and YouTuber Kim Mi-kyung.

During their conversation, Cha Ye Ryun shared her thoughts about her husband, Joo Sang Wook. She said, "The two of us are so different. My husband especially struggles with empathy. Some days, it's really hard. He doesn't show even a bit of understanding. Since he doesn't share the same perspective, I sometimes feel lonely."

When Kim Mi-kyung commented, "But living with someone who's exactly like you isn't good. It would be a disaster," Joo Sang Wook quickly agreed, saying, "That's true. It would be a disaster." 
Cha Ye Ryun continued, "In the beginning, I'd think, 'How can someone have so little emotion?' And during our days before marriage, we never went to any fancy restaurants. At one point, I even wondered if he was testing me—because all we ever ate was samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly) and soju. I thought, 'Is he trying to see how long I can endure this? To see if I'd stick around even without taking me to nice places?'" 

She went on, "But after four months, I realized it wasn't that—he just didn't know. He didn't take me to those places because he was unfamiliar with them. I realized he hadn't really been on proper dates before. That's when I thought, 'Marrying someone like this might actually be a good idea.'" 

She added, "After getting married, I found that his lack of empathy was still hard to deal with. When I'm feeling sad, I wish he could feel sad with me. On difficult days, when I tell him what I'm going through, he responds with something like, 'Why are you even struggling in the first place?'" 
Joo Sang Wook commented, "You're making me sound like someone with a disorder now, Ye Ryun! I'm not a weird person. It's just that I've lived longer than her, and... I completely understand all the emotions my wife feels. I do know, but..."

Cha Ye Ryun cut him off, saying, "I haven't finished my conclusion yet. Listen. In the end, when I look back now, I realize the calm words my husband said helped me avoid sinking into feelings of depression."

Joo Sang Wook laughed and added, "You always have to interrupt right before the tears fall. Listen for a bit, but cut it off just before she starts crying." His remark brought laughter to the table.

Cha Ye Ryun concluded, "That's why I'm actually thankful to my husband. He stops me from retreating into the depths of my emotions."
(Credit= Channel A Table for Four) 

(SBS Star)