Lee Pil-mo Reveals Heartbreaking Story of Not Telling Father About Mother's Passing After Two Years

Actor Lee Pil-mo shared a poignant family story, revealing that he still hasn't been able to tell his father about his mother's passing, two years after her death.

The broadcast on the evening of the 15th at 8:10 PM on Channel A's 'Close Friends' Documentary - Four-Person Meal' will feature actor Lee Pil-mo, who has been in the industry for 27 years.

On this day, Lee Pil-mo invited his close friends Lee Jong-hyuk and Kim Min-kyo, classmates from the '93 batch at Seoul Institute of the Arts and friends for 32 years, to his home. He prepared a feast for his friends with his wife. Lee Pil-mo, who met his wife through a dating show and married her, revealed his home where he is raising his two sons. He garnered empathy from married men by stating, 'Before marriage, I had five rooms to myself, but after marriage, my only space is a 1-pyeong veranda.' When he mentioned calling his wife 'Baby,' his wife Seo Soo-yeon humorously revealed, 'It's just a nickname, 'Baby.' He doesn't treat me like one. He says, 'Baby, can you clear this up?' making the set burst into laughter.

The show will also unveil college memories of Lee Pil-mo and his friends, known as the legendary '93 batch of Seoul Institute of the Arts. Lee Pil-mo, who came from an all-boys high school, confessed that upon entering university, he couldn't even call a female student by her first name without her surname and would hold his breath just seeing male and female students hug as a greeting. Kim Min-kyo humorously retorted, 'Back then, I would put my arm around a female student's waist,' sending his friends into fits of laughter. Furthermore, the truth behind a love triangle involving a female student between the two friends surfaced, causing a stir.

Lee Pil-mo then opened up about his journey to establishing himself as an actor. He shared how he survived for 10 years in obscurity, taking on various part-time jobs including stage setup and even accepting minor roles where he was slapped in 'Love and War.' His efforts paid off, and he gained recognition through dramas like 'You Are My Destiny,' 'The Success of Herrightarrows,' and 'You Are My Sons,' detailing his arduous path to shedding his unknown status. Kim Min-kyo recalled comforting a struggling Lee Pil-mo during his long period of obscurity by buying him drinks and saying, 'Just hang in there a little longer.' Six months later, Lee Pil-mo gained fame through a drama and even landed an electronics commercial, recounting his emotional moment.

Lee Pil-mo's family history will also be revealed. He reminisced about his mother, who raised three children through thriftiness, recalling times as a child when the family was so poor they survived a week on two half-mackerel fish and couldn't afford milk for school lunches. He later gave his mother his acting fees for 20 years, which she used to buy a house, astonishing his friends. He expressed his gratitude to Lee Jong-hyuk, who helped with the funeral arrangements and carrying the body until dawn after his mother passed away in 2023, after a lifetime of hardship. He revealed that he still keeps his mother's clothes, showing his longing for her. However, he added to the sadness by disclosing that he has not yet told his father, whose memory is not fully intact, about his mother's death.

Meanwhile, Kim Min-kyo confessed that his father, who was the director of a general hospital, suffered a major financial scam and became a monk. He passed away after a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer, and Kim Min-kyo expressed regret for not being able to show him his success on 'SNL Korea,' his eyes welling up with tears.

'Close Friends' Documentary - Four-Person Meal,' a time to peek into a star's life with close friends, airs every Monday at 8:10 PM.

Lee Pil-mo debuted in the 1997 play 'Darkness Shuns Light' and was primarily active in theater until the early 2000s. He left a strong impression on viewers and rose to stardom with the 2008 drama 'You Are My Destiny.' Since then, he has showcased a wide range of acting skills through various dramas and entertainment programs.