Bae Young-man Divorced After the Sudden Death of His Young Daughter: “Losing One Child Destroyed the Family”

Bae Young-man said the death of his young daughter shattered his family and ultimately ended his marriage. Speaking on MBN’s “Special Scoop,” the comedian recalled receiving a phone call saying his wife had collapsed. At the hospital, he said, he found his wife unconscious and learned that the baby had arrived dead.

He remembered that his daughter had been smiling that morning. After her death, he said, conflict between the couple became overwhelming. “We suffered so much that we could no longer live as a family,” he said. “Losing one child destroyed the household.”

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We suffered so much that we could no longer live as a family. Losing one child destroyed the household.

Bae said he now believes he and his wife should have endured the pain together, but they could not. “Being together was too painful, so we had no choice but to separate,” he said. He then took responsibility for raising their other children.

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Being together was too painful, so we had no choice but to separate.

He described his second daughter as happily married and said his youngest child has a stable job. His greatest concern, however, remains his eldest son, Bae Kang-min, who chose acting despite his father’s opposition. The two spent years in conflict, and Bae acknowledged that he had placed excessive expectations on his first child and criticized him more harshly than the others.

The son once left home during the dispute, but father and son have since resumed contact. Bae said he became more worried after learning that his son was considering marriage to a Japanese girlfriend. When he asked how his son would support a wife and children, Bae Kang-min replied, “Don’t worry. I won’t ask you for help. Were you fully prepared when you got married?”

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Don’t worry. I won’t ask you for help. Were you fully prepared when you got married?

Looking through photographs of his children as they grew up, Bae said, “I’m sorry to my children too. I should have protected the family until the end, but I didn’t.” His son also recalled his childhood feelings: “I thought it was all my father’s fault. Even though it wasn’t, I resented him.” Bae eventually wept as friends offered comfort.

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I’m sorry to my children too. I should have protected the family until the end, but I didn’t.