Comedian Kim Young-chul Tearfully Opens Up About Estranged Father: "I Want to Call Him 'Dad'"

Comedian Kim Young-chul has openly shared his past family struggles, particularly his complex relationship with his father, touching the hearts of many viewers.

In a YouTube video released on the 21st on his channel 'Kim Young-chul Original,' Kim sat down for a counseling session with Professor Park Sang-mi, where he candidly spoke about his upbringing.

"After my parents divorced, I lived with my mother, so I have very few memories with my father," Kim began. "Because we spent so little time together, I grew up thinking, 'My father must have really disliked me.'"

He continued, recounting painful memories: "I've never once called my father 'Dad.' Even during our final farewell before he passed away, I still called him 'Father.'"

Visibly moved to tears, Kim admitted, "Even now, when my father is unexpectedly mentioned somewhere, my heart still trembles." Professor Park offered comfort, saying, "Fathers of that generation couldn't easily say 'I'm sorry.' He likely boasted about you secretly while watching TV. That was his way of saying 'Young-chul, I love you, I'm sorry.'"

Despite these difficulties, Kim emphasized his drive to pursue his dreams. "I became a comedian against my mother's objections," he recalled. "My mother worried she couldn't support me, but I persuaded her by saying, 'Being a comedian doesn't require support. Just giving birth to me is enough.'"

Kim also offered practical advice to a featured listener: "Try doing something you dislike and something you must do at the same time. I endured discomfort and persevered." Reflecting on his own journey, he concluded, "Looking back, I did my best as a child. If my father appeared in my dreams, I would want to call him 'Dad' just once."

Korean netizens reacted with deep empathy and support to Kim Young-chul's heartfelt confession. Comments included sentiments like, "My heart aches after watching this," "The desire to call him 'Dad' is so sad," and "Cheer up, Kim Young-chul!"