Kim Ji-hye’s Remarkable Journey in Home Shopping
On a recent episode of “Best Friend Talk Documentary Table for Four,” Kim Ji-hye shared some eye-opening insights about her income, which surpasses that of her husband, Park Joon-hyung. The show, hosted by comedian Yeom Kyung-hwan, featured Kim Ji-hye, Lee Hye-jeong, and MC Park Kyung-rim as best friends. During the discussion, Kim Ji-hye revealed that she generates up to 45 billion won in sales through home shopping, conducting as many as 60 broadcasts a month. She mentioned that this income is ten times more than what her husband earns.
Kim Ji-hye also shared an amusing story about her busy schedule, where she would move from one live broadcast to another without even thinking. She admitted that she felt compelled to keep going because of the reality of her situation. After reflecting on this, she adjusted her schedule to be more balanced. Yeom Kyung-hwan empathized with her experience, stating that when one becomes too busy, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture.
Dealing with Gaslighting and Changing Perceptions
In addition to her professional achievements, Kim Ji-hye spoke candidly about the challenges she faced in her personal life. She mentioned that her husband sometimes engaged in gaslighting, making her feel like she was overreacting. For instance, when she expressed that things were difficult, he would respond with comments like, “Someone will make money at that time anyway, but if you go, your money.” This prompted her to work harder, which led to laughter among the audience.
Yeom Kyung-hwan also noted the evolving perception of home shopping. He pointed out that when he first started, there was a strong belief that home shopping was a place where celebrities went to sell products. However, he observed that now, many stars are appearing on these platforms.
A Career Spanning Decades
Kim Ji-hye made her debut in 1999 with “Gag Concert,” where she initially thought that celebrities were making a lot of money. However, she soon realized that this wasn’t the case. She recalled how Bae Dong-sung, a pioneer in celebrity home shopping, sold “Guardian Bat” and even bought a house with a swimming pool in the United States. Despite the lack of popularity, she decided to start home shopping because she believed it would be a blue ocean market.
Her first home shopping broadcast involved working as a yellow clay pack assistant next to the late Kim Young-ae. After two years of assisting, she learned the flow of the process and eventually got the opportunity to become the main character.
Balancing Family and Work
Kim Ji-hye, who has become a super mom earning more than ten times her husband’s income, shared some humorous moments about her current lifestyle. She mentioned that in the past, she felt caught up in her husband’s popularity. However, with the reversal of their financial situations, she now takes on household responsibilities like washing dishes herself. She also revealed that she no longer attends events and only does her favorite radio show, “Gagcon.” Her younger colleagues even buy food using her credit card, which brought laughter to the scene.