Actor Jo Jae-Yoon broke down in tears while discussing his late father on the March 28 broadcast of MBN’s ‘Tell Me What You Did Yesterday, Dongchimi,’ hosted by Lee Ha. Under the theme ‘I Still Shed Tears Inside Today,’ he delivered an emotional performance of ‘Ormakgil’ with misty eyes.
Reasons Behind the Tears
Jo Jae-Yoon explained the deep impact of watching ‘Parasite’ in theaters. “My father had his own house, but during Lunar New Year, I felt immense guilt for not visiting more. I love him deeply. ‘Parasite’ hit me hard emotionally, and that feeling surged in the theater. The basement life during rainy seasons was traumatic—I half-cried through the film. The suppressed emotions felt real; my eyes stung, my heart ached. I poured everything into every scene,” he shared.
Struggles and Family Hardships
He revealed ongoing remorse even after marriage. “Parents still worry. My annual salary was just 1.3 million won—too much back then. My first book earned 1.5 million won, allowing independence. I finished a drama, but my father went hungry for 10 years waiting to see me on TV. I wanted to make him proud and promoted shows, but he passed away,” Jo added.
Reflecting further, he said, “I felt sorry even after having a child. Talented people encouraged me, giving strength. I wondered if my father felt like he killed three lives immersing in my roles. After intense scenes in a tracksuit, I’d go home crying and snap at applauding fans. On radio, ‘Ormakgil’ emerged naturally.”
