[Sports Chosun, Reporter Kim So-hee] Actress Nam Bo-ra broke down in tears as she shared the hardships her family has endured.
In the 286th episode of tvN’s ‘You Quiz on the Block’ aired on the 26th, actress Nam Bo-ra and her five siblings appeared on the show.
Nam Bo-ra, the eldest of 13 siblings, shared her thoughts on her upcoming wedding in May, saying, “I’ve been receiving so many congratulations these days. So many mothers and fathers from across the country have been congratulating me. It made me feel like I need to live well.”
She explained her connection with her husband, saying, “We met as church friends. Our eyes met while volunteering. He was like my right-hand man.”
Jo Se-ho, one of the hosts, commented on rumors about Nam Bo-ra’s husband, saying, “There’s a rumor going around that your husband is very handsome and resembles soccer player Son Heung-min. What do you and your family think?” The siblings, without hesitation, agreed, saying, “He does resemble him,” and Nam Bo-ra shyly added, “He’s a three-second Son Heung-min.”
Nam Bo-ra spoke about her life with such a large family and her career as an actress, which is now in its 20th year. When asked by host Yoo Jae-suk if she used her earnings to pay for her siblings’ tuition and registration fees, she confirmed, “Yes. The first and second siblings received a lot of benefits. I felt I should give to my younger siblings as someone who received those benefits. I didn’t mind using my earnings on my siblings; it seemed natural.”
Her siblings expressed their gratitude, not taking Nam Bo-ra’s financial support for granted. They said, “When I see the youngest sibling now, she seems like a baby, but when our elder sister started working, she was the same age as the youngest sibling is now. I think our sister is amazing. Starting her career in the entertainment industry at a young age and supporting us must have been tough.”
The siblings described Nam Bo-ra as ‘strong on the outside but tender on the inside.’ They said, “Seeing our sister is like seeing our mother. Our mother sacrificed a lot and couldn’t do many things. I hope she can do what she wants now, and I feel the same for our sister.”
The siblings then read letters to Nam Bo-ra. The seventh sibling, Nam Se-bin, said, “I was worried our sister might not be able to marry because she couldn’t emotionally separate from the family due to her big heart. If someone were to ask me if I’d be born as one of the 13 siblings in the next life, without hesitation, I’d say ‘YES.’ Though our childhood was tough, and we shared five ramen packs among ten people or washed with cold water and wore hand-me-downs, it’s those moments that make us who we are today. I hope our sister, rather than being the eldest, could be born as the youngest next time and receive more support.”
Nam Bo-ra, touched, said, “That’s so moving. Our family wasn’t well-off when we were young. There were times when our utilities were cut off. We went to school having washed with water boiled on a gas burner and shared five packets of ramen. But nobody complained. It was tough, but we endured, and now our family is strongly united.”
She added with tears in her eyes, “I hope my siblings don’t feel sorry, thinking that I sacrificed myself.”
Nam Bo-ra gained attention as the eldest daughter of a large family before her debut, appearing on MBC’s ‘Our Sunday Night – Choir of Angels’ in 2005 and KBS’s ‘Human Theater’ in 2008.
In 2015, she faced the tragic loss of one of her siblings.
Reporter Kim So-hee yaqqol@sportschosun.com