'High School Mom and Dad' Concludes Season 5 with Reality Check from Lee Yoo-ri

'High School Mom and Dad' (고딩엄빠) has wrapped up its fifth season, concluding a meaningful three-year journey with the story of 'MZ Farmer' Park Jae-wook. Since its premiere in March 2022, the show has provided support to 130 young parents, and the final episode aired on December 4, 2024.

In the last episode of MBN's 'Adults Don't Know High School Mom and Dad 5' (어른들은 모르는 고딩엄빠5), Park Jae-wook, who previously appeared as Lee Yoo-ri's husband in Season 3, returned to share his current situation. He revealed that he has been living separately from his wife for the past ten months and expressed a desire to restore their family. However, Lee Yoo-ri stated her wish to divorce for the sake of their son, highlighting a significant divide in their perspectives.

After hearing both sides, the studio cast offered practical advice, urging the couple to make a rational decision for their futures. The production team bid farewell to viewers, reflecting on the impactful journey of the 130 participants over the past three years.

Park Jae-wook, the main focus of the final episode, returned to the studio after 1 year and 7 months, sharing, 'It has been ten months since my wife took our son and left. She is currently demanding a divorce, but I want to restore our family.' He recounted his daily life post-separation, revealing that he had a confrontation with his wife after she failed to return home on time, leading to their current situation.

The production team reached out to Lee Yoo-ri for her perspective. In her interview, she shared, 'I am currently staying at a friend's house. I initially stayed at my parents' home, but I moved to avoid running into my husband. I want a divorce, but it’s emotionally difficult to meet him, so I came here to express my thoughts.'

Lee Yoo-ri explained her reasons for wanting a divorce, stating, 'After appearing on 'High School Mom and Dad 3', my husband has not changed at all. He often invites friends over, and on the day of our fight, friends were at our house. When I woke up the next morning, he was already gone for work.' She added, 'It was uncomfortable, but I had to take care of his friends since he wasn’t there. Still, I made sure to pick up our son on time.'

The tension between the couple was palpable, with cast member In Gyo-jin suggesting that one of them might be lying. Seo Jang-hoon pointed out that Park Jae-wook's anger over a 20-minute delay in picking up their son was unreasonable, emphasizing that children should not be left alone without parental supervision. Lee Yoo-ri firmly stated her unwillingness to return to the relationship, saying, 'I don’t want to go back to that hell. I don’t think I need him as a father.'

Later that night, Park Jae-wook returned to a friend's house instead of his own, explaining, 'It’s too hard to stay in the house where my wife and child’s presence lingers, so I’ve been living here for about three months.' He admitted to not eating all day when asked by his friend, who urged him to take care of his health. Park Jae-wook revealed, 'I made some wrong choices after my wife left.'

The production team continued their interview with Lee Yoo-ri, who acknowledged her own faults but insisted that they did not justify the level of conflict they experienced. She expressed that her trust in her husband was shattered after their fight, and their son now fears adult men due to the trauma from that day. 'I feel guilty for my son, so I won’t go back,' she concluded.

In Gyo-jin pressed Park Jae-wook for confirmation of Lee Yoo-ri's claims, to which he admitted, 'It’s true,' leaving the studio in shock. Lawyer Lee In-cheol advised, 'Abuse can be grounds for divorce. If you feel remorse, a clean divorce might be the best choice for both you and your wife.'

Park Mi-sun also asked if he had any wishes for his wife, to which Park Jae-wook replied that he wanted to see their son a few times a week. She reminded him to think rationally for their child's sake, considering visitation rights.

After Park Jae-wook's story concluded, Park Mi-sun announced the bittersweet end of 'High School Mom and Dad'. She reflected on how the show, which started in February 2022, has changed perceptions of young parents. In Gyo-jin expressed hope that the participants would take the lessons learned and move forward positively. Psychologist Jo Young emphasized that the existence of 'teen parents' cannot be erased by denial, and she felt honored to have shed light on their struggles over the past three years. Thus, 'High School Mom and Dad' concluded its fifth season, leaving viewers with a mix of support and nostalgia.