[Seoul=RNX News] Reporter Kim Ye-eun = In MBN’s reality music show ‘Unforgettable Duet’, actress Lee Joo-hwa and her mother suffering from dementia revealed their affectionate love for each other, bringing tears to viewers’ eyes.
On the broadcast aired on the 19th (Wednesday), MBN’s ‘Unforgettable Duet’ is a reality music show featuring touching duet performances of participants losing their memories to dementia and those who remember them.
Last year’s Chuseok special received rave reviews in just one episode, winning the ‘Content Asia Awards 2025’ Silver Prize, garnering attention as a globally relatable project.
Jang Yoon-jeong serves as MC, with Jo Hye-ryeon, Son Tae-jin, and Oh My Girl’s Hyojung as panelists.
The protagonists of episode 3 are veteran actress Lee Joo-hwa and her mother, Mrs. Lee Soon-ho, who is losing her memory to dementia. The third memory singer accompanying their memory journey was Park Seo-jin.
The broadcast conveyed the earnest heart of a daughter toward her mother losing memory. When her mother was diagnosed with dementia two years ago, daughter Lee Joo-hwa shared, “I never imagined that my mother, who had a good memory, would have dementia,” revealing that the entire family was shocked.
The family set up a ‘Room of Memories’ to hold onto her mother’s memories. The room was filled with over a thousand pictures holding her mother’s memories lining the walls. Lee Joo-hwa expressed, “I wish my mother would stay a little longer,” leaving an emotional impact.
Watching this, Park Seo-jin said, “My maternal grandmother had dementia, and in the midst of losing her memory, she only remembered me,” shedding tears and deeply resonating with Lee Joo-hwa’s wish for a longer time with her mother. Jang Yoon-jeong said, “Every episode leaves me in tears,” wiping her eyes at the mother-daughter story of Lee Joo-hwa and her mother.
The memory bus where the mother and daughter rode together was filled with wedding dresses, young photos of her mother, and mementos from her father.
The mother repeatedly reminisced, “I was famous in my younger days though I am old now,” conveying her wish to stay in her brightest era, bringing tears to viewers.
MC Jang Yoon-jeong conveyed warm sincerity saying, “Luckily, the memories her mother is trapped in are happy ones.”
Looking at the family picture with her son, the mother recalled her son whom they lost unexpectedly, saying, “He went to heaven.”
When the mother couldn’t remember her son’s name, Jang Yoon-jeong empathized with the mother’s sorrow, saying, “The pain of losing a child is often likened to the agony of one’s insides being torn apart,” and was moved to tears.
The existence that comforts the mother’s indelible scars was daughter Lee Joo-hwa. Lee shared, “Though my mother was critically ill, she miraculously got up wanting to see my performance and ended up sitting in the audience,” turning the studio into another sea of tears.
Lee Joo-hwa confessed, “I wasn’t a good daughter,” admitting the love-hate relationship, but revealed, “Now, every bit of my mom is beautiful,” opening her heart and making everyone emotional.
Her mother responded, “You were always a good daughter. Our precious daughter. Thank you for growing up so well,” expressing gratitude. To the affectionate mother-daughter sight, Hyojung remarked, “I feel how much you two love each other,” shedding tears.
Her mother’s life songs were Lee Mi-ja’s ‘A Woman’s Life’ symbolizing her life, Bae Ho’s ‘Parting at Midnight’ loved by her father, and ‘Southern Train’ to kindle her mother’s excitement.
Though memories are gradually fading away, the still ongoing life, excitement, and love of the mother were clearly evident.
The mother-daughter duo selected Lee Mi-ja’s ‘A Woman’s Life’ to create a beautiful duet stage. Her mother captivated the studio with accurate lyrics and notes from the first verse, drawing applause and cheers.
Watching her mother sing till the end, Lee Joo-hwa happily said, “Mom, you look so beautiful,” and expressed her heartfelt emotion, “This time spent with mom is so very happy.”
Memory singer Park Seo-jin sincerely sang ‘Mom’s Song’ and ‘Because,’ bringing his true feelings across.
Park Seo-jin shared, “I was choked with emotion, making it hard to sing,” and admitted, “Memories of my grandmother and mother came rushing in on the memory bus. I wanted to cheer for your mother,” delivering his heartfelt message, note by note, leaving viewers deeply moved.
Jang Yoon-jeong expressed, “It was a time to realize once again the great power of music,” adding, “I thought I should take many family photos. I rediscovered the preciousness of photos,” sharing her thoughts.
‘Unforgettable Duet’ episode 3 once again demonstrated the miracle that music brings. Even if memories fade, a daughter’s heart toward her mother, a wife’s love for her husband, and a parent’s affection for their child were vividly revived into one clear moment through music.
Immediately after the broadcast, on social networking services, viewers shared their impressions saying, “The photo room was truly moving. Shed tears like crazy,” “Thoughts of my mom left me choked up and in tears,” “My mom is also losing memory to dementia, was comforted by Park Seo-jin’s song,”
“How Lee Joo-hwa’s mother lived with her son buried in her heart. Hope she lives happily with her daughter,” “Program made me think about many things. Watched in empathy unknowingly losing track of time,” among others.
Meanwhile, ‘Unforgettable Duet’ airs every Wednesday at 10:20 PM on MBN.
