Lee Dong-gun Remembers Late Brother with AI Technology on 'My Little Old Boy'

In the latest episode of SBS's variety show My Little Old Boy (미운 우리 새끼), aired on February 2, 2025, actor Lee Dong-gun took a poignant family trip with his parents to reminisce about his late younger brother, who tragically passed away 17 years ago due to an accident.

The family journeyed to Hongcheon, a place where they had shared memories with his brother, Jun-yeop, who was eight years younger than Lee Dong-gun. The atmosphere was filled with nostalgia as Lee Dong-gun explained, 'This is the only place we traveled together.' His father recalled, 'We went there during Jun-yeop's break while he was studying abroad in Australia.'

As they enjoyed a meal together, Lee Dong-gun presented a mysterious photo to his parents, stating, 'This isn't just a gift for you; it's a gift for me too.' His mother, puzzled, asked, 'Who is this? Is it my son?' His father remarked on the unfamiliarity of the face, prompting Lee Dong-gun to reveal that the image was an AI-generated representation of what Jun-yeop would look like at 37, had he lived past the age of 20.

Additionally, Lee Dong-gun shared a family photo featuring all four members, a reunion of sorts after 17 years. He reminisced about how Jun-yeop disliked taking pictures and had straight hair that he often styled.

His mother shared that Jun-yeop admired his older brother, even predicting he would grow to be 1 cm shorter than Lee Dong-gun, which turned out to be true.

Lee Dong-gun's father reflected on his parenting, expressing regret over being too strict, which may have distanced him from Jun-yeop during his teenage years. He admitted to feeling guilt over Jun-yeop's passing, stating, 'For ten years, I couldn't forget him. I felt responsible for his death.'

In the studio, Lee Dong-gun's mother added that she also felt immense guilt, believing that if she hadn't sent him abroad, he might still be alive.

As they discussed moving away from their family home, Lee Dong-gun asked his father how he felt about leaving a place filled with memories of his childhood and Jun-yeop. His father revealed he had long contemplated leaving but waited for his wife’s feelings. In contrast, his mother expressed her anxiety about the move, stating, 'After losing Jun-yeop, my memory has faded significantly. I worry about moving and leaving those memories behind.' She poignantly shared that she spoke to Jun-yeop, asking if he would be able to find them after the move.