Seo Jang-hoon criticizes father for using corporal punishment on athlete son

During an episode of JTBC's Divorce Camp, Seo Jang-hoon condemned a father who justifies hitting his athlete son for poor match results, a conflict that has left the wife considering divorce.

Seo Jang-hoon expressed strong repulsion toward a husband who justifies corporal punishment based on his child's boxing match results and attitude. In a case involving a couple appearing on JTBC's Divorce Camp, the coercive disciplinary methods of a father with an athlete son emerged as the core of the conflict.

"I hit them if they talk back"... A husband who believes punishment is discipline

The husband has used corporal punishment when his son failed to achieve expected results in matches or displayed attitudes that seemed to challenge his authority. He justified his actions by stating, "I hit them if they talk back," noting that situations had escalated to the point of involving a police station. In one instance, he was captured slapping his son's cheek because the son swiped his hand away when the father touched the boy's collar in an elevator. The wife expressed her shock and bewilderment, witnessing the husband slap the son's cheek two or three times in a row immediately after exiting the elevator.

The husband claimed the son lost his matches because he "did not do his best." He felt the son lacked a "hungry spirit" and showed strong resistance to the boy moving beyond his control. Regarding this, Seo Jang-hoon emphasized that times have changed, asking, "Who these days would accept being hit by a father as a good thing?" Seo pointed out that the father is becoming the person responsible for inflicting trauma on his son. He noted that the son feels a heavy burden, thinking first about his father's scolding whenever he competes, and that the fear of his father's presence prevents the children from performing properly, beyond the fear of coaches or managers.

"Father created the trauma"... Psychological pressure on the athlete son

The son is suffering from psychological pressure due to his father's coercive attitude. The father has used corporal punishment when the son lost matches or when his attitude was unsatisfactory, leading to repeated situations where the son tries to run away to avoid it. While the father expressed dissatisfaction with the son's attempts to win against him, Seo Jang-hoon countered that regardless of being a father, leaving such wounds on a child is problematic. Seo mentioned that the pressure the father exerts on his son is creating trauma.

In particular, the father maintained the logic that "he hits him because he did not do his best" regarding the son's losses. However, Seo Jang-hoon refuted this, arguing that there are numerous variables in a match, such as the opponent being strong or the athlete's condition being poor, and stated, "It makes no sense to hold a child unconditionally responsible and hit them when they might not perform well." The father did not bend his standards, repeating that he hits the son for not doing his best when losing matches. Seo also pointed out that the father is strict only with his son, while not acting this way toward other members at the gym.

50% intention of divorce... Broken marital relationship and remaining tasks

As the conflict deepened, the wife's intention to divorce was revealed. She stated she could no longer tolerate the husband's violent actions and coercive attitude toward their sons. The wife expressed feeling bewildered and surprised while watching the husband's behavior toward the son. Seo Jang-hoon warned that if the father continues to act this way, he may end up lonely in his old age. The wife added that the father's attitude toward his son could ultimately cause him to face loneliness in his later years.

Amidst the conflict, the husband revealed his complex feelings by mentioning that his "intention to divorce is 50%." The wife recalled a moment when the husband held the hand of their eldest son, who had been wandering, and wept while telling him not to do so, emphasizing that what a father should show his son is empathy and encouragement rather than violence. The couple shows a deep rift due to differing views on discipline and communication styles, awaiting mediation from experts.

Source: JTBC Entertainment (YouTube)