TGCBGA 08
We Can’t Leave Him Like This.
The Late Lee Hee-seo.
Debuting as a four-member idol at the age of 17, she instantly shot to stardom, becoming a sensation purely for her looks. Word-of-mouth spread, saying, ‘There’s a really pretty person in the group,’ and upon debut, the group grew into one of the top idol groups of their time, keeping a busy schedule.
The group, which had only known success, suddenly disbanded when their agency CEO ran away in the middle of the night. Lee Hee-seo transitioned to acting after a two-year hiatus.
Lee Hee-seo’s Glamorous Comeback
‘Twinkle’ Lee Hee-seo, Returns to Film After Two Years
Lee Hee-seo’s comeback was extensively covered in newspapers. Her acting debut film, ‘Happy Farewell,’ captured both critical acclaim and box office success, and she swept up all the Rookie Awards at various film festivals and acting ceremonies.
In an era before the internet was fully developed, Lee Hee-seo possessed a beautiful face and an untouchable aura that led to serious discussions about her advancing overseas based on a single magazine photo.
- Is Lee Hee-seo not truly beautiful?
- She’s ridiculously gorgeous. Honestly, I don’t think someone with that kind of face will ever appear again.
- I admit Yoo Yeon-seo’s face is great, and I wondered who he resembled—he’s the spitting image of his mom.
Even now, whenever her photos resurface, people who are not of that generation express admiration.
Not only her looks but her talent was also praised: respectable dancing skills and main vocals in her idol group, and critics were full of praise for her acting, saying it was ‘hidden behind her face.’
After six months of sudden disappearance, the news she announced sent public opinion into a frenzy.
Lee Hee-seo, ‘Pink Romance’ with Joosung Group Vice President Yoo Geon-min
Lee Hee-seo – Yoo Geon-min, 2nd-Generation Joosung Group Heir: Top Star and Chaebol Marriage—A ‘Modern-Day Cinderella’
The marriage between the actress who was literally conquering South Korea and the heir to the nation’s top company was headline news and was famous enough that everyone at the time knew about it.
- (But a sudden marriage? Is it because he’s a chaebol?)
- (She must be marrying him for the money.)
- (I thought she had integrity, but in the end, it’s about money. All celebrities are like that.)
- (Lee Hee-seo was rumored to be obsessed with money in school.)
- (There were rumors that even after her debut, she told people she only debuted because she wanted to marry someone rich.)
There were many rumors to that effect.
Lee Hee-seo, who retired from the entertainment industry with her marriage, never responded to the rumors and went on to have two sons and seemingly live well.
Yoo Eun-ho and Yoo Yeon-seo resembled Lee Hee-seo so much that other chaebol families were watching them closely from a young age.
Step Aside Lee Hee-seo! ‘Next-Generation Diva’ Im Yoon-joo’s Glamorous Return
Gangbuk’s ‘Ulzzang’ Choi Na-yeon Debuts as Actress… Aims to be the Post-Lee Hee-seo
Many celebrities later tried to take Lee Hee-seo’s place, but no one was quite the same ‘Star’ she was. To that extent, Lee Hee-seo remained a perpetual hot topic even after her retirement.
Her news-worthiness was unique; every time mundane photos of her grocery shopping at the mart or taking her children to family events—taken after the persistent stalking of reporters—were uploaded, she would trend on real-time search rankings.
Then, sudden tragic news broke.
[Breaking News] Lee Hee-seo Suicide
‘Cinderella’ Lee Hee-seo Found Dead in Her Home (1st Report)
Top Actress Lee Hee-seo Dies… Suicide Suspected
In an era when there were no ethical reporting guidelines for reporting on extreme choices, the sensational news of her death included graphic details that she had hanged herself at the family’s Pyeongchang-dong mansion.
People who were curious about her every move after her retirement were shocked by the sudden news of her death, and some visited the famous locations from her acting debut film, ‘Happy Farewell,’ to leave flowers in remembrance.
- (I heard the family life was awful? That they all spoke in a foreign language during meals to exclude her?)
- (I heard the Joosung Group family has over 20 ancestral rites a year?)
- (There are rumors that Yoo Geon-min had a mistress; they say she was a model.)
- (Chaebol families must have made her life miserable, tsk tsk. Poor thing.)
Many speculations ran rampant about Lee Hee-seo’s death. Acquaintances seeking public attention piggybacked on the news, giving interviews claiming, ‘She was heavily stressed from playing the role of a chaebol daughter-in-law,’ or ‘She suffered from depression due to the family’s harsh treatment.’
Joosung Group ‘Silent’ on Suspicions Surrounding the Death of the Late Lee Hee-seo
Joosung Group Spokesperson: ‘Claims by the Late Lee Hee-seo’s Associates Are Not True. Please Refrain from Unnecessary Speculation.’
The Joosung Group released a statement in response to the uncontrollable rumors, but it only added fuel to the fire.
The rumors surrounding Lee Hee-seo’s death continued until they were eventually overshadowed by another top star’s dating scandal.
‘The atmosphere seemed serious, though. The rumors might not be entirely false, right?’
When he brought up the word ‘Mom,’ he felt that the Chairman, his father, and his brother avoided any mention of Lee Hee-seo. Yoo Yeon-seo felt strangely uncomfortable.
‘Things like in dramas really happen in real life.’
Kang Jin-hu of 2207 had learned about past societies, including the 2010s, through video media.
‘Maybe dramas were created from reality.’
Just as he was trying to suppress the subtle discomfort by imagining a typical woman who married into a chaebol family being abused by her mother-in-law and receiving a money envelope as divorce compensation, Im Seung-hyun stopped the car.
“Young Master, we’ve arrived.”
Waking from his thoughts, he entered the building, relying on his intuition.
“This way.”
Fortunately, Im Seung-hyun led the way for Yoo Yeon-seo.
Yoo Yeon-seo entered the elevator, hesitating, Um, what floor is mine? Im Seung-hyun discreetly pressed the button: the top floor, the penthouse.
“Uh… what’s the password?”
“I don’t know that, either.”
Yoo Yeon-seo groaned briefly and turned the auto-action mode back on. His hand moved automatically.
‘0821? How self-obsessed is he to set his house password to his birthday?’
He deliberately pressed the door lock password, making sure Im Seung-hyun saw it. Im Seung-hyun was quick to notice and memorize the number.
“You’ve worked hard. You can go now.”
“Yes, before I go, may I formally introduce myself…”
“Let’s hear that tomorrow.”
Tomorrow? He didn’t think there were any other schedules, but Im Seung-hyun nodded.
“Understood. What time should I come?”
“Come around 10 AM. If I’m not awake, just let yourself in. You saw the password, right?”
“Am I allowed to do that?”
“Why wouldn’t you be?”
Im Seung-hyun consciously composed his surprised expression. He had heard from a colleague in the Strategic Planning Office that Yoo Yeon-seo strongly disliked any intrusion into his personal space.
But seeing him give permission so easily, Im Seung-hyun concluded that either the rumors about Yoo Yeon-seo were exaggerated or he truly had memory issues.
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow, Young Master.”
Yoo Yeon-seo waved vaguely and entered the house. The lights came on automatically, and Yoo Yeon-seo paused at the sight of the large shoe closet.
‘The shoe closet is the same size as my old apartment.’
Going inside, the high ceiling of the duplex and the elegant chandelier announced their presence.
“Ah…”
Is this really my home? As he stared blankly at the house, a stream of red blood flowed from his nose, staining his clothes and the floor. It was an aftereffect of the memory synchronization.
‘The auto-action mode… the cost-effectiveness is low.’
Nosebleed after less than a minute. Thinking this, Yoo Yeon-seo roughly wiped the blood with his sleeve and opened the doors to his house one by one.
“Why is a house for one person so big?”
A profound silence descended upon Chairman Yoo’s mansion in Pyeongchang-dong after Yoo Yeon-seo left.
“He… remembered that incident.”
The Chairman spoke with a voice full of devastation.
When Lee Hee-seo made her extreme choice, Yoo Yeon-seo was the first to find her.
Yoo Eun-ho and the household staff rushed over upon hearing the commotion, but the firmly locked door wouldn’t budge.
[Young Master, please step back for now.]
[But…]
[The Young Master must have a reason for shouting not to look. Please leave this to us.]
A servant found the key and opened the door, and everyone gasped at the tragic sight.
[Gasp…!]
[Ambulance! Call an ambulance!]
Yoo Eun-ho was held by someone and couldn’t see the scene, but he clearly heard his brother’s voice from inside.
[Ma’am, I’m holding on… Mom, Mom is strange…]
[Young Master!]
He later heard that his brother had been hugging his mother’s legs, lifting her up with all his might. He was also screaming at his brother not to come in, fearing he might see.
[What’s going on!]
[He-heavenly… Honey!]
It was the first time Yoo Eun-ho had seen his grandparents look so horrified, and the first time he had seen his father screaming in agony.
Yoo Yeon-seo, having witnessed his mother’s death firsthand, had to receive counseling for mental shock for a long time.
[But where did Mom go?]
[What?]
[Our Mo-om…]
Afterward, Yoo Yeon-seo acted strangely, like a malfunctioning machine. The entire family tried their best to eliminate Yoo Yeon-seo’s trauma, but it was not enough.
[Aaaahk!]
[Yeon-seo!]
Then, one day, after suffering a major seizure, Yoo Yeon-seo seemed to have returned to normal. He acted as if he didn’t know the word ‘Mom’ at all.
The doctor at the time said the shock was so great that it affected his brain, causing him to lose all memory of his mother.
[From now on, never mention Hee-seo, your mother. The child might have another seizure.]
[…Yes, Grandmother.]
[Eun-ho, my poor grandson. You need to be cared for enough too…]
[I’m okay.]
Lee Hee-seo’s name became a taboo word within the family.
After the severe seizure, his brother’s personality changed. Yoo Yeon-seo, who had been considerate and intelligent, became selfish and spoiled.
Then, while his grandfather and father were away on long business trips, he suddenly joined an agency and became a trainee.
“…It seems like the memory was reawakened because of the accident.”
Yoo Eun-ho, who had been silent, spoke in a low voice. Yoo Geon-min’s face was already chalk-white, and his lower lip was trembling.
“For now, let’s leave Yeon-seo alone, Grandfather. Even if we have to persuade him later.”
“…Yes, let’s do that.”
The Chairman pressed his temples. He sighed deeply, worried that if he said anything to Yoo Yeon-seo now, the seizure might return.
“But we can’t just leave him as he is before.”
“Father…”
The Chairman was annoyed at his second grandson, who wouldn’t follow his will, yet he still secretly provided him with support. It was purely half genuine worry and half an impulsive thought that it might not be so bad if he succeeded as an entertainer.
He was also well aware of the industry’s evaluation of Yoo Yeon-seo and how he was being consumed as a figure of ridicule online.
But he never intervened. It was due to the conflicted thought that if he received enough criticism, he would eventually give up and return to company work.
“I was wrong… He’s not the type of person who will follow my will just by doing that.”
Yoo Geon-min and Yoo Eun-ho looked at the Chairman, who was muttering to himself.
“We cannot allow his reputation to be further damaged like this, can we?”
“That is true.”
The composed Yoo Geon-min nodded. He was ready to do anything for his son, but he had been sitting idle due to the Chairman’s warning not to do anything for Yoo Yeon-seo.
“He surely thought it wasn’t worth responding to the criticism. But we can’t leave him like this.”
I will have to take action myself. The Chairman clicked his tongue.
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