Learn Korean: Celebrity Parent Discusses Child's Future Plans

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Korean Reading Practice

김구라, 늦둥이 딸 연예인 될 팔자에도 "절대 안 시켜"

Date: June 13, 2026

Introduction

This article discusses a prominent Korean broadcaster's firm stance on his youngest daughter's future career path, despite astrological predictions suggesting entertainment industry success. The story touches on broader themes of parental choice, child protection in the entertainment industry, and the tension between destiny and parental will in Korean society. Through the perspective of his adult son, we learn about the father's deliberate decision to shield his young daughter from early media exposure.

Vocabulary

Korean Romanization Meaning Example
늦둥이 neutdungi youngest child born after a long gap 늦둥이 여동생은 여섯 살이다.The youngest sister is six years old.
팔자 palja one's fate or destiny; fortune 사주에서 연예인 팔자라고 했다.The fortune teller said she has an entertainer's destiny.
사주 saju fortune telling based on birth date/time (Korean astrology) 사주 전문가를 찾아갔다.They visited a fortune-telling expert.
명확하다 myeonghwakhada to be clear, evident, or explicit 방송 활동의 장단점이 명확하다.The pros and cons of broadcasting work are clear.
노출하다 nochulhada to expose; to be exposed to 어릴 때부터 방송에 노출하지 않겠다.He will not expose her to broadcasting from a young age.
부연하다 buyeonhada to elaborate; to add further explanation 그는 자신의 의견을 부연했다.He elaborated on his opinion.
입장 ipjang stance; position; standpoint 아버지의 입장은 분명했다.The father's stance was clear.
장단점 jangdanjeom pros and cons; advantages and disadvantages 이 일의 장단점을 비교했다.They compared the pros and cons of this matter.
절대 jeoldae absolutely; never; under no circumstances 그는 절대로 동의하지 않을 것이다.He will absolutely not agree.
언급하다 eongeuphada to mention; to refer to; to bring up 그는 그 사건을 언급했다.He mentioned that incident.
전문가 jeonmunga expert; specialist 사주 전문가의 의견을 들었다.They listened to the fortune-telling expert's opinion.
방송인 bangsongin broadcaster; media personality 그 방송인은 유명하다.That broadcaster is famous.

Reading Text

유명한 방송인의 성인 아들이 최근 자신의 유튜브 채널을 통해 여동생의 미래에 관한 흥미로운 이야기를 공개했다.

A prominent broadcaster's adult son recently shared an intriguing story about his younger sister's future through his YouTube channel.

그 아들에 따르면, 여섯 살 난 막내 여동생은 전문 사주 점술가를 찾아간 결과 매우 특별한 운명을 타고났다는 진단을 받았다고 한다.

According to the son, his six-year-old youngest sister received a diagnosis from a professional fortune-telling specialist indicating that she was born with an exceptionally special destiny.

특히 사주 전문가는 그 여동생이 연예 산업에서 성공할 수 있는 "완전한 연예인 팔자"를 지니고 있다고 명시했으며, 이는 많은 가정에서 매우 긍정적인 신호로 여겨질 수 있는 결과였다.

In particular, the fortune-telling expert explicitly stated that the younger sister possessed a "complete entertainer's destiny" capable of succeeding in the entertainment industry, a result that could be viewed as a highly positive sign in many households.

그러나 아들의 설명에 따르면, 그들의 아버지는 이러한 운명적 예측에도 불구하고 절대로 자신의 딸을 연예계로 보내지 않겠다는 확고한 결정을 내렸다고 한다.

However, according to the son's account, their father made a firm decision that he would absolutely not send his daughter into the entertainment industry, despite such fateful predictions.

방송 경력을 통해 이 업계의 명확한 장점과 단점을 모두 체험한 아버지는, 만약 자신의 딸이 나중에 연예인의 길을 선택하더라도 충분히 성숙한 나이에 그러한 결정을 내릴 수 있도록 기다리겠다는 입장을 보였다.

Having experienced both the clear advantages and disadvantages of this industry through his broadcasting career, the father expressed his position that he would wait until his daughter reached sufficient maturity to make such a decision on her own, should she choose the path of entertainment later.

그는 특히 어린 나이에 방송 활동에 노출되는 것이 자녀의 정상적인 발달과 개인적 성장에 미칠 수 있는 부정적인 영향을 깊이 있게 고려하고 있었다.

He was particularly considering in depth the potential negative impacts that exposure to broadcasting activities at a young age could have on his child's normal development and personal growth.

이러한 아버지의 신중한 태도는 현대 사회에서 자녀의 미래를 결정하는 데 있어 부모의 책임감과 보호 본능이 어떻게 작용하는지를 보여주는 좋은 예시가 되고 있다.

The father's cautious attitude serves as a good example of how parental responsibility and protective instincts operate in modern society when determining a child's future.

Grammar Points

-에 따라(서) depending on / according to

When attached to a noun with '따르면', it means 'according to'. It indicates the source of information or a standard being followed.

📖 그 아들에 따르면, 여섯 살 난 막내 여동생은 전문 사주 점술가를 찾아간 결과 매우 특별한 운명을 타고났다는 진단을 받았다고 한다. According to the son, his youngest six-year-old sister was diagnosed as having been born with a very special destiny after visiting a professional fortune teller.

✏️ 전문가에 따르면, 규칙적인 운동이 건강에 매우 중요하다고 한다. According to experts, regular exercise is very important for health.

Cultural Notes

In Korean culture, fortune-telling through *saju* (사주)—a system based on the year, month, day, and hour of birth according to the lunar calendar—remains deeply influential in personal decision-making, from choosing auspicious dates for major events to assessing a child's inherent talents and future prospects. This practice reflects Korea's long historical connection to East Asian metaphysical traditions, though modern Korean society increasingly balances such traditional beliefs with contemporary parenting philosophies that emphasize a child's autonomy and protection from early media exposure. The tension between respecting fate (*팔자*) and exercising parental agency shown in this article illustrates how Koreans navigate between honoring ancestral wisdom and adopting protective, child-centered values in the 21st century.

Source: 네이버 뉴스 | Original Article
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📝 Comprehension Questions

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Q1

According to the article, what specific prediction did the fortune-telling expert make about the youngest daughter's destiny?

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Q2

What was the father's absolute stance regarding his daughter's potential career in the entertainment industry?

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Q3

On what basis did the father form his decision about his daughter's future exposure to broadcasting?

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Q4

At what age does the father believe his daughter should be allowed to make her own decision about entering entertainment, if she chooses to do so?

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Q5

What concern did the father express about exposing young children to broadcasting activities?

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