Han Hye-joo Reveals Postpartum Struggles with Breastfeeding & Ex-Husband’s Insistence

South Korean Actress Reveals Postpartum Struggles Following Divorce

Seoul, South Korea – Actress Han Hye-joo publicly detailed challenges she faced in the immediate aftermath of her son’s birth, alleging a conflict with her former husband, actor Park Jae-hyun, over infant feeding practices. The revelations, made during a recent appearance on the TV Chosun program “X’s Private Life,” center on a disagreement regarding breastfeeding and the pressure she felt to adhere to specific feeding methods.

According to Han, the experience differed significantly from her expectations of parenthood. “Marriage and dating were different,” she stated on the program. “I was a first-time mother, and my body was exhausted after giving birth. I kept clashing with Seowon’s father.”

The core of the dispute, Han explained, revolved around her attempts to establish breastfeeding. She described experiencing a panic attack while using a breast pump, stating she felt as though she “couldn’t breathe and was going to die,” and even experienced overbreathing. Despite her distress, Han alleges Park insisted on exclusive breastfeeding, repeatedly emphasizing its perceived health benefits for their child. “He kept saying ‘You have to breastfeed,’ and ‘Breastfeeding is healthier,’” she recounted.

Han also claimed Park made comments questioning the potential impact of not breastfeeding on their son’s immune system, a remark she found particularly hurtful. “He even said casually, ‘Isn’t his immunity weak because you’re not breastfeeding?’”

Kim Gu-ra, a co-panelist on the program, questioned Park’s perspective, asking, “He seems to have very traditional ideas, doesn’t he?” Park, when asked about the incident, acknowledged a potentially rigid approach, stating, “I don’t know if it’s because I’m stubborn, but I didn’t realize breastfeeding was causing her to have a panic attack.”

Fellow panelist Jung Kyung-mi criticized Park’s response, arguing that prioritizing his wife’s well-being should have been paramount. “Mothers know that breastfeeding is good, but in that situation, he should have sided with his wife first,” she said.

Han Hye-joo and Park Jae-hyun announced their divorce in 2009, several months after their son’s birth. The details of their separation were largely private until Han’s recent appearance on “X’s Private Life.”