Actress Shin Ae-ra candidly shared her adoption experience, delivering a moving message. On the 24th, MBC’s ‘Heartfelt Lecturers’ featured actress Shin Ae-ra and star lecturer Kim Mi-kyung discussing the topic ‘Driving Force of Life’ and sharing their life stories genuinely. On this day, Shin Ae-ra, taking the stage as a lecturer, expressed, “Coming to MBC feels like returning to my parental home.”
She recounted her representative works ‘Angel’s Choice’, ‘What Is Love’, and the project with her husband Cha In-pyo, ‘Love in Your Arms’, reminiscing about her youthful past.
Notably, she confessed the moment she fell for Cha In-pyo during filming, filling the venue with laughter. Shin Ae-ra then sincerely conveyed the story of her adoptive family, based on her experience of adopting two daughters.
Reflecting on her first meeting with her eldest daughter, she recalled, “It broke my heart to see her not cry even when her diaper was soaking wet,” and remembered creating changes through physical contact and love with the child.
Additionally, she urged a shift in social perception about adoption, stating, “Adoption is not something to be praised but celebrated.”
She emphasized, “Adoption and childbirth are no different,” and called for legal improvements to prevent excessive procedures from delaying adoption.
Star lecturer Kim Mi-kyung candidly shared her story of overcoming financial difficulties and health deterioration in her company.
She recalled, “Due to COVID-19, when lectures were completely canceled, my bank account balance went to zero for six months.”
With the burden of running the company, employees voluntarily proposed salary cuts, yet amidst extreme anxiety, she shared, “I found new breakthroughs by analyzing books and reports every morning.”
Through this process, Kim Mi-kyung successfully transitioned to a content business, growing the number of employees from 7 to over 100.
However, as the offline lecture market regained its vitality after COVID-19, another crisis emerged.
Feeling isolated, hearing behind-the-scenes comments from employees that “The CEO should not intervene in management,” her blood pressure eventually rose to 189, leading her to the emergency room due to stress and overwork.
During the moment of contemplating extreme choices, Kim Mi-kyung shared how she collected her thoughts upon asking herself, “Is this the life I want?” and concluded with the message, “Find your dreams at your own pace.” MC Oh Eun-young held a session receiving and counseling audience stories through the ‘Heart to Heart’ corner.
Regarding a story shared that day about a self-employed person worrying about customer interactions, Oh Eun-young advised, “Distinguish between sincerity and insincerity, and offer a sincere yet light-hearted comment to customers.”
She then engaged in a role-play with the storyteller, demonstrating a cheerful yet warm way of communication, which resonated strongly with the audience. The genuine stories shared by Shin Ae-ra, Kim Mi-kyung, and Oh Eun-young in their unique ways left viewers with laughter and inspiration. MBC’s ‘Heartfelt Lecturers’ airs every Sunday at 9:10 PM. Reporter Kang Joo-hee kjh818@edaily.co.kr
