Popular Actor’s “Unusually” Close Relationship With Sister Sparks Debates

Actor Lee Ji Hoon recently appeared on the SBS variety show Strong Heart and talked about his close relationship with his younger sister, leaving many viewers torn about it.

Lee and his sister, who is five years younger, are so comfortable in each other’s presence that he can easily link arms around her, buckle her seatbelt, or save her phone number with affectionate contact names, something which is more usual for couples than siblings.

The actor also recalled an anecdote where he gave his sister a peck on her cheeks. He explained that his sister had worked really hard to become a flight attendant but got eliminated in the final round. She came back home and cried so hard that she was almost drenched in her own tears. After she fell asleep, exhausted from all the crying, Lee felt sorry looking at her swollen face and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

After hearing Lee Ji Hoon explain his relationship with his sister, the show’s hosts were also left astonished and remarked that he was an “unrealistic” older brother, adding that they could never stand such intimate physical show of affection with their siblings.

When the hosts enquired more about their relationship, the actor revealed that he was not this close with his sister from the go. They grew up bickering a lot, and in the past, there have been instances where the two cut off contact with each other over their many disagreements. But, the bond between them started getting stronger after their mother fell seriously ill. Lee Ji Hoon recalled that it happened when he was around 20 years old, and that was when he and his sister started relying on each other more, realizing that they were the only blood-related family to each other after their parents.

During the conversation, Lee also mentioned that he is preparing for his sister’s wedding to her boyfriend of six years. As a wedding gift, the actor not only plans to pay all the expenses for the ceremony but also get his sister a car.

However, this generosity is accompanied by a tinge of jealousy, the actor revealed. Lee said he felt envious of his future brother-in-law, since now he is a higher priority for her. Before, Lee said he would have dinner with his sister regularly, but now she is usually with her boyfriend whenever he suggests grabbing a meal together.

Though the actor relayed the stories of his relationship with his sister in a candid way, netizens are divided over it. While some think that their tight-knit bond justifies such intimate actions between the two, others feel that it is rather unsettling.