Singer Lee Seung-woo and his grandmother Choi Geun-sook have once again brought deep emotion and thrills to viewers. Their touching story of being each other’s pillars of support throughout their lives is truly moving hearts.
The KBS ‘AM Plaza – Challenge Dream Stage’ broadcast on the morning of the 6th featured a ‘I Am a Singer’ special. Lee Seung-woo and his grandmother Choi Geun-sook, who had already secured two wins during a previous Lunar New Year special, appeared on the show to challenge for their third victory.
Lee Seung-woo’s life has been inextricably linked with his grandmother since he was two years old. Following the pain of his parents’ divorce, his grandmother was the only one who embraced him as an infant. To provide for her grandson, she endured harsh years, taking on any work available, from farming in other people’s fields to cleaning buildings and working in school cafeterias. To the grandmother who lived solely for her grandson, Lee Seung-woo was both a son and her entire world.
However, Lee Seung-woo also faced severe trials. He suffered through brutal school violence during his middle school years. The young boy endured days of being a ‘bread shuttle’ and facing indiscriminate violence, but he waited until his late 20s to confess this to his grandmother to avoid worrying her. It was heartbreaking to hear that his grandmother still sheds tears of guilt, feeling she couldn’t protect him during those times. Lee Seung-woo shared his firm resolve, saying, “What I hate most in the world is seeing my grandmother in pain. Now, I only want to give her happiness. I will become a great singer and gift a ‘flower path’ to her life.”
His sincerity seems to have resonated, as Lee Seung-woo has become a local ‘star’ in his hometown of Cheorwon, Gangwon-do, following his TV appearance. He expressed his gratitude, saying, “So many people in the neighborhood recognize me that I have to wear a mask when I go out. Everyone from the gym owner to the village elders gathers every morning to cheer me on. I felt the warmth of the community when a friend’s mother gave me beef and strawberries.” Grandmother Choi Geun-sook also feels that this time with her grandson is like a dream. Choi added, “I am receiving the greatest filial piety from Lee Seung-woo right now. Just standing on stage with my grandson and sharing happy memories is more than enough.”
