Actor Joo Ji Hoon recently opened up about his childhood struggles, sharing touching memories of his family’s hardships and simple joys.

On the March 12th episode of tvN’s You Quiz on the Block (Episode 284), Joo Ji Hoon appeared as a guest alongside 2025 Harbin Winter Asian Games gold medalist Kim Chae Yeon and The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call author Lee Nak Joon. During the show, he got real about his past and the experiences that shaped him.

Joo Ji Hoon revealed that his mother started studying later in life and would wake up at 4 a.m. every day. Despite her busy schedule, she still took care of the family.

He expressed his gratitude, saying, “Every morning, she made fresh rice, fresh side dishes, and did all the housework.”

Talking about his childhood, he shared, “I didn’t grow up wealthy. We lived in a tiny single-room house inside a dried seafood market. It was cramped, had poor insulation, and we had to boil water on a coal briquette stove just to wash."

He added, "But honestly, none of that mattered. When it rained, my mom would make pancakes, and that memory is one of the happiest for me.”

He also spoke about his father’s job, saying, “My dad worked in construction. Most families have a set vacation time, but for us, monsoon season was our break because he could only work when the sun was out. But I actually liked that better."

He added, "Even now, I love swimming in the rain. I used to run around in the fields where my mom worked all day, and that’s probably why I’m this tanned.”

Meanwhile, You Quiz on the Block continues to be a hit variety show where Yoo Jae Suk and Jo Se Ho meet guests from all walks of life, sharing heartfelt stories. The show airs every Wednesday at 8:45 p.m. KST.

Source: [1]

Singer Steve Yoo (Yoo Seung Jun), who has been banned from entering South Korea for over two decades, continues to express his love for the country and his desire to return.

On March 21, Yoo Seung Jun posted a video on his personal account along with a cryptic caption, saying, “When one door closes, another opens. When one door opens, another closes.”

He continued, “Just because a door has opened doesn’t mean I should leave, and just because one is closed doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try to open it. I am simply walking the path my father told me to take. Whether people acknowledge it or not no longer matters to me.”

His hashtags also caught attention, as he included “I love you,” “Bless you,” “South Korea,” “Loved ones,” “Everything will be okay,” and “Korea.” Fans couldn’t help but wonder if he was once again hinting at his hope to return.

Just a few days earlier, on March 18, Yoo Seung Jun had also posted a nostalgic message about his time in South Korea.

He wrote, “December 7, 1989—13 years old (1st year of middle school). The school I attended until the day before I immigrated to the U.S. in Songpa-gu, Oju Middle School, is still the same.”

Along with his message, he shared a video of the school's walls and playground, revealing, “One of my fans filmed my middle school, which I attended until I left for the U.S., and sent me the video.”

The clip also showed scenes of his elementary school, making fans reminisce about his past in Korea.

Yoo Seung Jun was one of the most popular artists in South Korea during the 1990s, but his career took a sharp turn in 2002 when he unexpectedly left for the U.S., renounced his Korean citizenship, and became a U.S. citizen.

This led to widespread backlash, as many saw it as an attempt to evade mandatory military service. As a result, the South Korean government banned him from entering the country.

Since then, he has repeatedly taken legal action in hopes of lifting the ban. Now, with his continued efforts and heartfelt messages about Korea, many are wondering—will he finally be allowed back after 23 years?

Source (1)