On October 12, JTBC’s reality show Love War featured Lee Joo Hyang, a former Miss World Korea beauty titleholder known for her striking appearance, and her boyfriend Park Jin Sung, who appeared to constantly cater to her every demand. The episode revealed growing tensions between the couple as their contrasting expectations about dating became increasingly apparent.
Lee Joo Hyang, who previously received a beauty title at Miss World Korea, currently runs her own clothing brand. She is also directly involved in designing and producing garments, establishing herself as a businesswoman alongside her background in beauty pageants.
During the show, Lee Joo Hyang confidently introduced herself as a lookalike of aespa member Karina. “When I was younger, people told me I looked like Lee Na Young and Han Ye Seul,” she added. Her remarks left Seo Jang Hoon visibly surprised. “I’m a little worried about today. Are you going to be okay?” he asked. Lee Hyori also offered her candid opinion, saying, “Joo Hyang has her own unique charm, but I don’t think she looks like Karina.”
Meanwhile, her boyfriend Park Jin Sung was introduced as a job seeker hoping to become a nutritionist. The couple, who have been together for approximately four years, revealed that their relationship had become increasingly strained since Lee Joo Hyang received her beauty pageant award earlier this year.
Lee Joo Hyang was shown to have a strong interest in visiting trendy destinations and trying popular desserts. On one occasion, she traveled an hour and 40 minutes to visit a famous bakery. She also insisted on waiting three hours to try salt bread that had gone viral on social media. Park Jin Sung, who accompanied her through the long wait in sweltering weather with a perceived temperature exceeding 40°C, gradually became exhausted.
The episode also showed Lee Joo Hyang repeatedly asking her boyfriend to run errands, including purchasing cosmetics during their dates and taking photographs of her at a pool party. Although Park Jin Sung occasionally sighed in frustration, he continued fulfilling her requests without openly complaining. However, his growing fatigue became increasingly obvious as the demands continued. Watching the footage, panelists Lee Hyori, Seo Jang Hoon, Kim Heechul, and Go Joon Hee struggled to hide their surprise.
During an interview with the production team, Lee Joo Hyang made an especially controversial statement about their relationship. “My boyfriend has to do everything I tell him to do. He’s not allowed to resist. I consider myself the one in charge,” she declared, leaving viewers and the studio panel stunned.
Their dating expenses also became a major source of conflict. After visiting six trendy cafés in a single day, the couple spent a total of 192,800 won on desserts and café purchases. Park Jin Sung admitted that the financial burden was becoming difficult to manage. “To be honest, dating expenses are stressful for me. I also don’t understand why we need to visit six dessert shops in one day,” he confessed. “If I had that money, I’d rather spend it on pork belly and soju.”
When the production team jokingly suggested that Park Jin Sung should receive a salary for everything he did for his girlfriend, he responded, “It’s okay because I’m doing it for her.” However, Lee Hyori expressed serious concern about his willingness to sacrifice so much without expecting anything in return. “I’m worried. This kind of unpaid devotion has never ended well,” she remarked, highlighting the potential imbalance in the couple’s relationship.
Sources: Nate