[Comprehensive] 'Wife's Taste' Minister Park Young-sun Reveals a Day with Her Husband... "Got Fired as an Anchor, Then Met My Husband"

Photo by TV Chosun, screenshot from the broadcast of 'The Taste of Wife, Nowhere in the World'.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Minister Park Young-sun appeared on the show "Taste of Wife" and revealed a day with her husband.

On the 12th, the TV Chosun variety show "Taste of Wife, Nowhere Else in the World" featured Minister of SMEs and Startups Park Young-sun and her husband, lawyer Lee Won-jo.

Everyone stood up immediately when Minister Park appeared.

Park Young-sun, who is also a senior to former MBC announcer Lee Ha-jung, explained, "I quit and then joined. I resigned in 2004."

When the MCs complimented Minister Park by saying, "You look beautiful," she joked, "Hearing that I look beautiful means I've lost my mind."

Minister Park said, "I'm glad to meet you as we welcome the New Year," adding, "I hope all wives will be loved this year."

She was also surprised to hear that Ham So-won's husband, who is 18 years younger, is still in his 20s.

When Park Myung-soo asked her to dance, Minister Park said, "I can do almost everything except dance. I can sing a little," and sang a line from Yang Hee-eun's "Morning Dew."

Former MBC announcer Park shared the story of how she met her husband after quitting as an anchor and becoming a correspondent in LA.

Minister Park said, "I did news for about 20 years. I was even fired a few times," adding, "I was the first morning news anchor in Korea. Former lawmaker Kim Moon-soo was elected in a by-election, switching from progressive to conservative. So I asked him, 'Are you a turncoat?' President Kim Young-sam reportedly saw it while having breakfast and said, 'Is the anchor talking about me?'"

She continued, "At that time, the senior secretary for political affairs called the MBC president and said, 'We need to change the anchor.' I was removed from the anchor position and moved to the international department."

Minister Park said, "President Kim Young-sam gave a graduation speech at Ewha Womans University to promote female talent. He told us to discover female correspondents. I was in the international department, and the president saw that I was the only one. He suggested a dispatch, so I became a correspondent. I am MBC's first correspondent."

She added, "I went to LA, and my husband was working as a lawyer there, so that's when we met," and said, "Later, President Kim Young-sam said, 'See, after I fired you, something better happened.'"

In the released footage, Minister Park visited a hair salon early in the morning on her day off to attend an event. She said, "Washing my hair is the only time I feel like I'm resting during the day," and mentioned that she often goes to a one-person shop in her neighborhood.

Minister Park, who revealed she likes songs by Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson, mentioned an unexpected background, saying, "I participated in the 1979 TBC College Song Festival," adding, "I was part of the Pong Pong quartet called 'Pong Pong Party.' We made it to the finals but lost to strong competitors like Kim Soo-chul and Lee Jung-hee."

When asked if her husband was unhappy about her working on holidays, Minister Park said, "My husband is used to it. He plays the clarinet, takes photos, and lives independently. If a wife treats her husband too well, he won't develop himself." She also said, "On my days off, I enjoy music, reading, or gardening," and explained about platforms selling handmade crafts and cookies, relating to small business owners.

Minister Park said, "My mother once said, 'It's hard to find someone like that anywhere,'" explaining that her decision to marry was influenced by her mother's words. Her mother strongly supported her marriage to her husband.

When asked who proposed first, Minister Park confessed, "Of course, my husband did. I was a blunt woman who wondered why I should get married."

Minister Park also said she was "Korea's first Hollywood correspondent," mentioning, "I met Jodie Foster and Meryl Streep. The footage of my free talk is probably still at MBC."

When her husband appeared, the MCs admired, "He is handsome." He showed a caring side by bringing bread for his wife. Minister Park said, "My husband likes to drive," and that he supports her like a manager. She added, "We sometimes argue, but he dislikes it when I nag while he’s driving."

Photo by TV Chosun, screenshot from the broadcast of 'The Taste of Wife, Nowhere in the World'.

After leaving the hair salon, the couple rode in the car driven by her husband while listening to songs by Lim Young-woong. Minister Park's husband was a fan of Lim Young-woong. Park said, "Lim Young-woong seems to sing carefully."

Recalling the early days of their relationship, Minister Park said, "When I first met him, he had big eyes, and I didn't really like people with big eyes," adding, "I heard that when he was cleaning the World Trade Center in New York, he was like a ghost and was ignored. That made me reconsider him." Mr. Lee replied, "I cleaned to meet you."

Later, Minister Park visited the 'K-MAS Live Market' event, and her husband, who was waiting, took photos with her against the street background.

Jang Young-ran said, "The minister was very comfortable and nice. It was difficult because she is a minister, but she was unexpectedly approachable."

On that day, Minister Park's home and children were not revealed. When the MCs expressed regret, saying, "You should show your life at home," Minister Park said, "There will be a second episode soon."

Meanwhile, Minister Park Young-sun is 61 years old, and her husband, lawyer Lee Won-jo, is 67, with a six-year age difference. They married in 1997 and have one son.

Minister Park was appointed head of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups by President Moon Jae-in in April 2019, and lawyer Lee Won-jo currently serves as the Korea country managing partner of the global law firm DLA Piper.