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| Novelist Lee Oi-soo at a press conference in this 2014 file photo / Korea Times file |
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Novelist Lee Oi-soo's wife, Jeon Young-ja, visited her ailing husband in hospital to comfort him, confirming that they are back together, years after they separated.
In a video uploaded by their son, Han-eol, on Lee's social media account Wednesday, Jeon whispers to her husband who is fighting for his life since he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in March and underwent surgery ― he was then taken to an intensive care unit and has been there ever since.
"Honey, you and I are back together. We no longer live apart. We live together and will die together," she told her husband.
Without saying a word, Lee touches his wife's shoulder as a sign of agreement. Due to dysphagia, he is unable to speak, according to his son.
The video was uploaded months after Jeon made a tearful plea to Lee's loyal readers to say hello to her husband and comfort him on her social media account. She updated the status of her husband after the operation, saying he was unconscious and fighting for his life.
She wrote that she was ending her "jolhon" ― a Korean term literally meaning, "graduation from marriage," and referring to a separation ― which was a decision the couple made in 2019 upon the wife's request.
Back in 2019, Jeon had initially asked Lee to sign divorce papers, a request he rejected.
As she got older, Jeon stated she was tired of preparing food for the dozens of guests who visited their home every day to meet her husband.
Lee and Jeon got back together following the novelist undergoing surgery.
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