Geon-Woo Couple Faces Challenges In Divorce Camp

On March 20, 2025, the popular JTBC entertainment program 'Divorce Camp' aired, featuring the Geon-woo couple, Lee Byung-moo and Choi Mi-hwa, as they navigated their troubled marriage through emotional counseling and reflective activities. The couple, struggling with issues stemming from the husband's alcoholism and the wife's overprotectiveness towards their children, confronted their realities in a unique setting that combines therapy and entertainment.

During the episode, show host Jin Tae-hyun expressed enthusiasm for the role-playing therapy, stating, "I have to write this down for method acting. Watch closely, Byung-moo hyung," which set a lighthearted tone amidst serious discussions. This approach not only provided humor but also a framework for the couple to address their challenges.

Park Ha-sun, taking on the role of the wife, humorously imitated her husband's snoring while checking on him as he pretended to sleep, prompting laughter from both the couple and the audience. The playful atmosphere highlighted the need for the couple to communicate better, a theme echoed throughout the counseling session.

As part of the process, the husband acknowledged his alcoholism, tearing up as he declared, "I will quit drinking and try harder. I will quit. I have been neglectful for about two years, and I have been indifferent to the children for nine years." His emotional outburst showed the depth of his struggle and served as a turning point in their session, showcasing the serious undertones of the show.

Reflecting on her husband's behavior, the wife remarked, "I sometimes felt resentful, and our children's female friend seemed too much. I thought I was scratching at the husband's faults and being immature." This candid admission surfaced the layers of their marital strife, leading to discussions about accountability. It was clear both parties were grappling with the effects of their lifestyle on their relationship and family dynamics.

Through psychological exercises, the couple addressed their feelings regarding each other and their children. They were guided to consider how their actions impact their family unit. The husband candidly expressed regret over his harshness towards a close friend who had been affected by his drinking, saying, "I was harsh with my close friend, whom I couldn't let go of from my heart." This moment of vulnerability illustrated the impact of unresolved issues on their marriage.

In addition to their emotional therapy, the couple underwent a legal consultation during the episode. The wife openly stated, "If he has any conscience, he probably won't ask for property division," expressing serious concern about their financial future given their shared challenges. Meanwhile, the husband mentioned that his period of unemployment lasted two years, but that he had been economically active for nine years prior to that. His assumption that they could divide their assets equally stirred significant tension.

Moreover, the couple faced financial turmoil, revealing significant debts and their dependency on the wife's inheritance. The husband claimed to have 20 million won in credit card debt and 28.1 million won in car payments, sparking discussions about how these financial responsibilities could affect their breakup. The lawyer advised them that the wife's contributions were substantial, given that her inheritance supported the family financially.

The wife expressed frustration, equating her husband's past contributions as insufficient, saying, "You can't say the husband supported me. I used more of my own money. The husband only came with his clothes and a car when we got married." This assertion underscored her feelings of conflating her sacrifices with her husband's lack of accountability, further complicating their relationship.

The distressing environment and emotional discussions led to more revelations during the episode. The husband found himself worrying about how their children perceived him, as their son began calling him 'Ajussi' and even his son’s girlfriend referred to him as 'Abeoji.' This disconnection from their children symbolized deeper issues in the family dynamic.

As tensions rose, the couple participated in a psychological lie detector test. The outcome revealed various truths about their feelings and intentions—with the husband affirmatively responding to whether he considered his children as family. The wife noted that, while his answer seemed genuine, his subsequent actions did not align with that truth, creating ongoing distrust.

In a poignant moment, the wife asked their children for advice on whether she should consider divorce, to which their son expressed doubts about her happiness with a partner who struggled with drinking. This exchange highlighted the children's awareness of the struggles within the family unit, adding additional pressure to the couple's situation.

As the episode closed, the couple faced a significant crossroad in their relationship. The counseling process, while intense and filled with raw emotions, brought them to a point where they each had to confront their responsibilities, both to each other and to their children.

The broadcast not only tackled the sensitive subject of marital strife and alcoholism but also navigated the complexities of family dynamics and the challenges of modern relationships. The Geon-woo couple’s participation in 'Divorce Camp' serves as a poignant reminder of the need for communication and understanding in a relationship, especially when wounds are deep.

As they left the camp, both appeared more resolved to confront their issues head-on, suggesting a path forward—even if it remains uncertain.