Husband on Parental Leave for 20 Months Pleads to Return to Work, Wife Strongly Opposes: 'Marriage Hell' Airs First-Ever Case
MBC's 'Oh Eun Young Report - Marriage Hell' (hereinafter 'Marriage Hell') is set to feature the first-ever husband on parental leave in its broadcast history, drawing significant attention from viewers.
The episode, airing today (20th) at 10:50 PM, will introduce a husband who is 20 months into his parental leave. He has been exclusively handling childcare for their three children and managing household chores, with a non-stop schedule 24/7.
The husband shared his struggles, stating, "Childcare is much harder than work," and revealed that his wife had requested him to take about six years of parental leave. He expressed his earnest desire to return, saying, "I want to work. I desperately want to go back to my job."
However, the wife is adamantly against her husband's return to work, sparking curiosity about her reasons. Despite the couple having a debt of 150 million won, incurring over 2 million won in monthly interest alone, the wife insists on not having a dual-income household with her husband.
The wife sought help on 'Marriage Hell,' explaining she is in a psychologically unstable state. She confessed, "If I get just a little worse here, I might have negative thoughts," and "I'm working with my life on the line," evoking sympathy. She also described her distress, mentioning that her head spins after returning home from work and feels like it might explode when she hears her children speak.
What story lies behind the 'Parental Leave Couple's' situation, and what are the wife's reasons for preventing her husband from returning to work? The full story will be revealed on 'Marriage Hell' airing today (20th) at 10:50 PM.
Upon hearing the news, netizens commented, 'The husband seems so pitiful,' 'I understand the wife's unstable mental state, but they probably need a dual income because of the debt,' and 'I'm curious what story this couple has,' showing their anticipation for the broadcast.