Divorced mother avoids hugging son due to work smell

South Korean broadcaster Yeon Soo, 46, has opened up about the profound challenges of single motherhood following her divorce, detailing her struggles with poverty and her fierce maternal devotion. In a recent video on her YouTube channel, 'Yeon Soo's Yeon Soo-ropda,' she shared her journey working various part-time jobs after retiring as a racing model.

Yeon Soo worked as a dishwasher, cleaner, in a side-dish shop, and even at a factory during night shifts. She admitted to deliberately wearing baggy men's sportswear to remain inconspicuous while working. Currently employed at a gomtang (Korean beef bone soup) restaurant, she revealed a poignant detail: she avoids hugging her son after returning home.

This avoidance stems from the persistent smell of meat and broth clinging to her clothes. Yeon Soo fears her son will associate her with this scent, a fear that brought her to tears. "I'm afraid my child will remember his mother by that smell," she confessed, highlighting the emotional toll of her circumstances.

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I'm afraid my child will remember his mother by that smell.

Adding to her burdens, Yeon Soo is also caring for her mother, who is undergoing cancer treatment. She recently moved to be closer to her mother. The monthly child support of 850,000 won (approximately $615) is insufficient for their livelihood, forcing her to balance restaurant work with her broadcasting career.

Yeon Soo was married to Eli, a former member of the K-pop group U-KISS, in 2014. They have a son together, but divorced in 2020. Eli has since remarried.

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I deliberately wore baggy men's sportswear to remain inconspicuous.