In a candid reveal that's stirring major buzz, actress Jung Si-ah shared the raw reality of living with her father-in-law, veteran actor Baek Yoon-sik, for 17 years — admitting she's never actually lived alone with her husband.
On February 4, Jung appeared as a guest on singer K.Will's YouTube channel, where they dove into a deep conversation about her marriage.
Explaining why she's lived with her father-in-law since getting married, Jung recalled, "I was so young back then, and I didn't even have a concept of 'moving in together' with in-laws. None of my friends had marriage experience, so it just happened naturally." She added, "I've never lived with just my husband, so I don't even know what 'living as a couple' feels like. Our five-night, six-day honeymoon was basically the only time we've ever been just the two of us."
Over time, however, Jung said she began to reexamine her life. "When I talk with other parents at school, almost no one lives like I do. If most people change clothes before stepping out their front door, I change before stepping out of my bedroom. I haven't once laid on the living room couch to watch TV in the past 17 years," she said.
Even so, Jung didn't paint living with her in-laws as purely negative. "It's not just my discomfort — I believe my father-in-law has also been considerate in many ways," she said. "I never went to the OB-GYN alone, and when my husband was filming, my father-in-law personally drove me. He's also helped a lot with childcare," she added, expressing gratitude.
When asked if she would recommend this arrangement to a friend, Jung offered a clear standard. "If a really close friend asked, I'd tell them to think it over one more time," she said with a laugh, adding, "If it were my own kids, I'd absolutely say no." She explained, "It's not easy for two adults to live together. Everyone has different lifestyles, and there's a lot to take care of."
In reality, Jung said she has handled almost everything in her father-in-law's daily life for 17 years — from meals and hospital and salon appointments to laundry. "It's not because I disliked it; I felt it was natural because he's family to the person I love," she said. "Still, I hope my kids won't make the same choice."
"I've rarely talked about this publicly," Jung said toward the end. "But after 17 years, I feel like it's okay to say it now," she added with a smile.
Jung Si-ah married actor Baek Do-bin, Baek Yoon-sik's son, in 2009. The couple has one son and one daughter.