Former baseball player Lee Dae-ho revealed a special love story with his wife Shin Hye-jung, garnering attention.
On the August 25th broadcast of SBS’s ‘Same Bed, Different Dreams 2 – You Are My Destiny’ 400th episode special, the couple shared their tender story from dating to now, touching viewers.
Lee Dae-ho expressed that Shin Hye-jung, whom he has known for 24 years, is “my life’s protector and companion.” Their relationship dates back to when he was 21 during knee surgery. With his grandmother passing and his brother in military service, he had no guardian. Young Shin Hye-jung rushed to the Seoul hospital to act as his guardian without hesitation.
The story of her nursing Lee Dae-ho, who had difficulty moving, by holding a urine bottle caused the studio to be moved. Lee Dae-ho confessed, “At that moment, I realized she was the one. It felt like my grandmother sent her,” leading him to decide on marriage.
Even in marriage, Shin Hye-jung’s support was thorough. When Lee Dae-ho entered the Japanese and American stage, she managed her pregnancy and childbirth while carrying numerous suitcases alone to a foreign land. She checked each supplement ingredient to prevent doping violations and ensured his safety during drinking occasions. Lee Dae-ho expressed gratitude, saying, “Without my wife, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”
Lee Dae-ho, whose accumulated salary reached 42.9 billion won during his active career, revealed that he entrusts his financial management to his wife even after retirement. Shin Hye-jung is not only in charge of the household and finances but also meticulously takes care of his health and daily life, playing a reliable partner role.
However, Lee Dae-ho sometimes expressed jealousy over the attention his wife gives their son. On the show, he humorously said, “I wish she would give me just one-tenth of the love she gives our son,” eliciting laughs. The sight of him relying on his wife so much that he calls her about 12 times a day drew jokes from studio participants such as “a level of dependency.”
Nonetheless, Lee Dae-ho reaffirmed his deep affection, saying, “Whenever I’m having a hard time, my wife has been by my side. Since the urine bottle incident to now, she has been the only one there for me.” Shin Hye-jung also added emotionally, “I’m not someone particularly great, but my husband always tells me I’m the best, making me shine,” shedding tears.