3do4chon Begins... "An Age to Take It Easy"
Mother's Funeral in May Held as a Private Family Ceremony
Broadcaster Lee Young-ja, who recently revealed that she experienced the loss of her mother last May, has announced the beginning of her '3-do 4-chon' rural lifestyle.
On the 30th of last month, a video titled "Finally moving to the dream house! Starting 3-do 4-chon" was uploaded to Lee's YouTube channel, 'Food Queen, Lee Young-ja.' The term 3-do (都) 4-chon (村) refers to a living arrangement where one spends three days in the city and four days in the countryside.
Broadcaster Lee Young-ja has started living as a 'third-degree fourth cousin.' [Image source=YouTube channel 'Foodtequin, Lee Young-ja' capture]
In this video, Lee Young-ja introduced her second home. She mentioned that on days without broadcasting or schedules, she plans to stay at this house and continue her rural lifestyle. Through the video, Lee also showed herself growing various vegetables in the backyard garden.
Regarding her decision to live the '4-chon' lifestyle, she said, "In the city, you see a lot of glamorous things," adding, "I'm not at an age to compete with anyone anymore; I've finished all the races and now it's time to applaud, inform, and take it easy for others." She continued, "My body couldn't keep up, but I was living as if I had to win a gold medal like an Olympic athlete," and said, "Here (at the rural house), I turn off my phone, don't listen to news, and just enjoy watering the plants. This is the age I'm at now."
While watering the garden, Lee said, "I'm at an age where I should be watering and cheering for friends who have many days ahead, but I kept trying to get support from others," and explained the background behind naming the house 'Dream House,' saying, "That is my dream. So I named it Dream House. Let's be free."
Earlier, on the 29th of last month, Lee Young-ja revealed the news of her mother's passing on MBC's entertainment program 'The Manager.' She said, "My mother passed away last May," and added, "She was ill for a long time and stayed in the hospital for nearly 10 years." It is known that she held a family-only funeral without informing fellow entertainers about her mother's passing. Lee said, "My mother's dream was to prepare side dishes for her children and grandchildren living in the city," and expressed, "I want to give my nieces and nephews what my mother couldn't achieve?not money, but love."
Living styles such as '4-do 3-chon,' like Lee Young-ja's, or '5-do 2-chon,' which aligns with a five-day workweek, have recently gained attention. These lifestyles have emerged as alternatives to address the issue of rural depopulation and also serve as a new source of vitality for those tired of city life. In March, the government announced the 'Rural Depopulation Response Promotion Strategy,' expressing its intention to expand the '4-do 3-chon' lifestyle. This strategy includes not only the '4-do 3-chon' lifestyle but also rural workations (work + vacation) and startups in rural areas. The government plans to increase the rate of urban residents visiting rural areas for tourism and other purposes from 54.8% in 2022 to 65% by 2032 by securing a 'living population' that regularly visits rural areas.
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