Park Gun and Han Young have, for the first time, revealed their previously hidden IVF journey and opened up about the raw emotions behind it.
On the May 26 broadcast of the SBS variety show Same Bed, Different Dreams 2: You Are My Destiny, the couple—now in their fifth year of marriage—shared their everyday life. Park Gun told his wife, "You’ve really been through so much," adding, "What must have been even harder was enduring it all without telling anyone we were doing IVF."
Han Young detailed the two-year treatment process. She said, "I barely got any breaks and repeated procedures every month. With constant egg retrievals and embryo transfers, my body was reaching its limit." Reports revealed that she underwent 24 egg retrievals and 7 embryo transfers during that time, sparking even more sympathy.
She also opened up about the physical changes and psychological burden caused by hormonal shifts. "I gained weight and felt swollen, and my mood swings were intense," she shared. "I became so sensitive that even well-meaning comfort from others felt overwhelming." She added, "I feel sorry for being sharp with my husband while asking him to understand me."
Park Gun shared his feelings as he watched his wife suffer. "To increase the success rate, she even took injections that weakened her immune system," he said. "Seeing that, I could feel how much pain she was in." He bowed his head and added, "Looking back, I’m sorry I couldn’t be more understanding."
In the end, after long deliberation, the couple decided to stop treatment. Han Young said, "I felt we had truly done everything we could, and I realized I couldn’t endure any more. From now on, we’ve decided to put our happiness first."
The two, who married in 2022 despite an eight-year age gap, have chosen a new direction for their lives with mutual care and understanding. Their candid confession about weathering the difficult road of IVF is resonating with many.