WJSN (Cosmic Girls) member Dayoung drew laughter after making a joke about “divorcing four times” during a broadcast, prompting a playful warning from Lee Hyori. As her joke about divorce made headlines, her painful family history—including enduring difficult times following her parents’ divorce during her childhood—has resurfaced and gained renewed attention.
On the October 19 broadcast of JTBC’s variety show Love War, a story was featured about a man who promised to marry his girlfriend while serving in the military, only to change his mind after being discharged.
During the episode, Lee Hyori sympathized with young couples’ mindsets, remarking, “At that age, when you’re dating and casually bring up marriage, isn’t it exciting?”
In response, Dayoung cracked a joke, saying, “I’ve already been divorced four times,” sending the set into fits of laughter. However, realizing the presence of co-host Seo Jang-hoon—who has gone through a divorce himself—she quickly noticed his reaction and apologized profusely.
Lee Hyori playfully warned her, “Watch your mouth,” while Seo Jang-hoon responded good-naturedly, “If you apologize for something like that, it makes me look even weirder,” bringing more laughter to the set.
Dayoung’s joke drew particular interest because she had previously opened up on another broadcast about her difficult childhood following her parents’ divorce and the massive debt left behind by her biological father.
Appearing on MBC’s Songs That Kept Me Going – Playlist 109 in August, Dayoung confessed, “I grew up in a remarried family. My current dad is my stepfather. My parents divorced when I was young.”
At the time, Dayoung revealed that when she was seven years old, her biological father left behind billions of won in debt under her mother’s name before abandoning them. She reflected, “At that very moment, I felt like I had become an adult.”
Recalling her mother working day and night endlessly to make a living, Dayoung shared, “I kept thinking about how I could help my mom instead of being a burden to her.”
Touched by her story, viewers were moved to learn that after promising her mother she would rebuild their family, Dayoung moved to Seoul alone at the young age of 11. Living in a small, low-cost boarding room (gosiwon), she tirelessly pursued her dream of becoming a singer.
Meanwhile, Dayoung debuted as a member of WJSN in 2016 and expanded her career as a solo artist last year.
