In the 568th episode of the KBS 1 “Donghaeng,” broadcast on January 25, viewers were introduced to Yong-ju, a father in his 30s raising two young sons alone while managing a schizophrenia diagnosis, according to reporting by Sports Kyunghyang journalist Son Bong-seok.
According to Sports Kyunghyang, Yong-ju’s diagnosis followed a late-night police report he filed after hearing unusual noises outside his home. Responding officers found no disturbances and advised him to seek medical consultation, leading to his diagnosis in his early thirties.
Economic Strain and Medication Challenges
Before his diagnosis, Yong-ju maintained stable employment, including a period working as a public official, according to Sports Kyunghyang. However, maintaining steady work became difficult after he began treatment. The prescribed medication caused severe side effects, including sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression, which prevented him from securing regular employment.
To sustain his family, Yong-ju relies on irregular labor, taking on farm work when available and collecting discarded electrical wires to sell to scrap yards, as reported by Sports Kyunghyang. Growing debts and financial strain ultimately contributed to frequent arguments with his wife, resulting in their separation.
Living Conditions and Caregiving Responsibilities
Yong-ju now cares for his two sons—Beom-jin and Ho-jin—while also checking on his elderly parents who live directly upstairs, according to Sports Kyunghyang. The household resides in a single-room studio apartment lacking basic amenities, including a bathroom sink, with exposed concrete floors and persistent pest infestations.
Despite these challenges, the eldest son, Beom-jin, an elementary school second-grader, assumes significant household and caregiving responsibilities. According to Sports Kyunghyang, Beom-jin helps care for his younger brother, accompanies his grandparents to medical appointments because they struggle with literacy, and assists his father with daily tasks.
Yong-ju continues to manage his condition through prescribed medication, taking his doses according to daily alarms, driven by the hope of improving his family’s living conditions and eventually reuniting with his wife, according to Sports Kyunghyang.
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