Gary, a former member of the hip-hop duo Leessang, has opened up about his focus on parenting.
On October 23, Gary released a video titled 'I'll Chat Until Hao's Academy Ends' on his YouTube channel 'Kang Gary KANG GARY.'
In the video, Gary shared his daily routine, which includes dropping off his son Hao at an academy in Daechi-dong and picking him up afterward.
While taking Hao to the academy, Gary asked, 'Do you like math or English?' to which Hao replied, 'I have math for three hours until 9 o'clock, so it's not good and tiring.' Gary, appearing playful, expressed his affection for his son, saying, 'Do well and come back. I love you.'
After dropping off Hao, Gary had to wait for three hours. He noted, 'In our neighborhood, I can go home in about three hours, but in Daechi-dong, it takes an hour just to go back and forth, which is annoying,' and headed to a restaurant with the YouTube crew.
At the restaurant, he described his current lifestyle as 'not a complete Daechi parent, but a life of parents riding back and forth to the Daechi-dong academy,' adding, 'If I drop my son off and have some time, I eat kimbap in the car.'
He praised parents, saying, 'Parents are amazing. Once you get married and have kids, your life becomes your child's life until they become adults. It can't be helped.' He continued, 'The time spent with parents is the most during the upper grades of elementary school, around the sixth grade, and that's when they are the cutest.'
Gary also reflected on parenting, stating, 'Parenting is not just for the kids; it's also for the parents. I feel like making many memories will prevent future regrets.'
Regarding the competitive atmosphere of the Daechi-dong academies, he explained, 'In Daechi-dong, students take tests before enrolling in academies. The top-tier academies have high entry barriers, and some even take private tutoring to get in,' but he emphasized that he avoids excessive competition.
He remarked, 'Instead of doing advanced learning just to keep up, it's important to follow the curriculum. There are definitely kids who enjoy studying, and some thrive in this environment,' asserting that ultimately, the child must make their own decisions about education.
As Hao's class was about to end, Gary returned to the academy to greet his son warmly and wrap up the day's activities.
Gary gained fame as part of the hip-hop duo Leessang, producing numerous hits, and became popular through his appearances on SBS's 'Running Man.' He married Kim Se-eun, a non-celebrity 10 years his junior, in 2017 and drew attention when he appeared on KBS2's 'The Return of Superman' with Hao in 2020.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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