The story of a son who cries out due to his mother's verbal abuse and the mother herself will be revealed.
The MBC entertainment program ‘Oh Eun-young Report – Marriage Hell’ (hereafter ‘Oh Eun-young Report’) will air a family counseling special for four weeks starting at 10:45 PM on the 6th, welcoming the New Year of 2025.
Family issues are always connected to couple counseling. There have been hundreds of stories submitted in the past three months regarding family counseling. The first protagonists are a son whose childhood was filled with darkness and a mother who claims she cannot remember any of the harsh words she said to her son, creating a ‘black-and-white family’.
The son states that the words he heard from his mother in the past continue to torment him even at the age of 34. He lives in constant tension due to trauma and tends to avoid relationships with others. He feels that being with his mother not only brings negativity to his life but also induces fear. He was so afraid of facing his mother that he even canceled his application to appear on the show when he learned that the pre-meeting would be with her. However, the mother claims that she does not remember the harsh words she supposedly said and insists that she raised her child alone after the divorce, caring more than others and doing her best in parenting. The son is not only talented in many areas but also excels academically, maintaining top grades without private tutoring, which has elevated his mother's status.
Dr. Oh Eun-young, who has been observing the son's behavior, states that his depression index is “the highest among the participants she has seen in the past two years.” When the topic of past memories arises, the son shows signs of restlessness, and he becomes tense even at light jokes. The mother does not remember her harsh words, while the son has suffered from them his entire life. Can the two narrow their differences?
■ “You are a failure in life.” Due to the mother's continuous verbal abuse, the son has even blocked her contact information. He has been out of touch for a staggering nine months.
Since turning twenty, the son has been living independently in Seoul, away from his mother's house. Working as a fitness trainer for six years, he states that he rarely goes out except during work hours and spends most of his time at home. On the day of filming his daily life, he returns home immediately after work. However, there are questions about the son's home. Upon arriving, he does not even turn on the lights, and the only window that lets in light is covered with blackout stickers. The house, devoid of color and sunlight, seems to reflect the son's inner feelings.
Seemingly familiar, the son sits in front of his computer monitor, watching a drama. However, when a scene depicting family conversations appears, his expression suddenly hardens. Eventually, he bows his head and sobs. It seems that the family dialogue in the drama reminds him of his mother, as he struggles to control his emotions, gasping for breath. The son has been subjected to his mother's harsh words since the fourth grade. He was deeply shocked when he accidentally read his mother's diary, which stated that he was “the son born after a failed abortion.” He claims that his mother often spoke harshly to him when she was struggling. Nevertheless, he tried hard to be better to her.
However, on the day of the college entrance exam, he began to distance himself from her after she unleashed verbal abuse. The son, who understands the hardships his mother endured to raise him alone, wanted to study hard to alleviate her worries. However, due to pressure, he was unable to perform to his usual standards on the exam day.
The son expressed that he felt more sorry for disappointing his mother’s expectations than for his own disappointment. However, the mother reportedly said, “I can’t face relatives because of you. Just go out and get hit by a car.” The shocking statement left the MCs in disbelief. The son stated that he blocked his mother’s contact information due to the repeated verbal abuse. Yet, the mother, listening to her son’s story, claims she does not remember the events of the exam day either. With such differing memories, how did Dr. Oh Eun-young diagnose the significant gap between the two regarding the same incident?
■ The two sit down to talk after nine months. But did the son suddenly leave home due to the mother’s OO?
The son decides to meet his mother and talk after nine months at the suggestion of his cousin. The mother, who always appeared gloomy, shows her first bright smile upon hearing that her son is coming home. However, as if unaware of her feelings, the son immediately retreats to his room upon arrival. Although the mother prepared a feast for her son’s long-awaited visit, he refuses to eat. After much pleading from the mother, he ultimately gives in and takes a bite. The mother secretly wipes away tears while preparing the meal, feeling a mix of joy and sadness.
Wanting to restore their relationship, the mother tries to break the awkward atmosphere by speaking first. When the mother says, “Just think about being happy,” the son’s expression suddenly turns cold. He recalls the unhappy days of the past and expresses his disappointment to his mother. The mother suggested that they go on a trip together to bond with her new husband. Although the son found daily life challenging due to depression, he accepted the trip due to his mother’s persistent requests. However, during the trip preparations, ongoing conflicts led the son to express his desire to cancel the trip. In response, the mother snapped at him, even mentioning the cancellation fee for the accommodation.
As conflicts over the trip arose, past wounds resurfaced, leading the son to contemplate extreme thoughts. He even told his mother that he had gone to the Han River bridge to act on those thoughts, but her reaction was cold. In desperation, he asked, “Is the cancellation fee of 1 million won more precious than my life?!” The mother’s answer of ‘yes’ left him feeling even more despair.
The mother felt that her son’s sudden mention of life and death was an attempt to intimidate her. She expressed her disappointment towards her son, who did not understand her fear. The mother felt that her son’s contact, stating he wanted to die on the Han River bridge, was tormenting her. The more they talked, the further apart they grew. Ultimately, their conversation after nine months ended in disaster, and the son fell into despair once again.
In the early hours of the morning when everyone was asleep, the son discovers a handwritten letter from his mother. The mother reaches out once more. However, after reading the letter, the son begins to cry silently in the darkness. He packs all his belongings, leaving only the words, “Is this an apology?” and departs at 2 AM. The sound of the door wakes the mother, who realizes her son is gone and begins to feel anxious. In a state of urgency, she even calls the production team in the early morning, staying awake all night, hoping for a call from her son.
The mother wrote a heartfelt apology letter for her son. However, after seeing the letter, the son ran out of the house in the middle of the night. What could have been written in the letter? Why did the son leave home even after receiving the apology letter? Dr. Oh Eun-young's healing report for the ‘black-and-white family’ can be seen on the 6th at 10:45 PM on ‘Oh Eun-young Report’.
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
