얼마 전에 힐링캠프에서 가수 션과 아내 정혜영이 출연했던 모양입니다. 본래 텔레비전을 열심히 보질 않아서 그 프로그램을 보지는 못했는데 인터넷에 도배된 기사를 보고 뒤늦게 알게 되었습니다. 마치 그 기사를 실리지 않으면 언론사들이 통폐합을 당하는 것처럼 모두들 참여한 듯싶었습니다. 물론 어떤 토크를 실느냐 하는 것도 언론사의 몫이고 어떤 비평을 하느냐도 그들의 몫이긴 합니다. 그래서 어떤 기사는 “그의 얘기는 담담한 고백이 아니라 교화를 위한 강연처럼 느껴져 어딘가 모르게 불편했다.”고 말하기도 하는가 하면, 긍정적이고 따뜻한 시각으로 바라보는 언론들도 있었습니다.
그 힐링캠프에서 두 사람은 단순히 기부철학만 아니라 육아나 자녀교육까지 언급한 것이 전해졌습니다. 모든 사람이 다 하듯이, 세상적인 조류에 따라 아이를 키우고 자녀를 교육하기를 거부하고 자신이 옳다고 생각하는 길을 걷고 그 사실을 담담히 말한 것을 “무척 이상적인 방법이었으나… 딴 세상사람 얘기 같이 현실성은 없었다.”고 평가절하 했지만 그것은 자신의 삶을 비판적으로 받아들일 준비가 없는 사람들의 말일 뿐입니다. 사람들은 항상 자기를 만물의 척도로 삼기 때문입니다.
다행히 모든 기사가 그런 식 폄하가 아니라는 것이 새해를 열어가면서 세상을 향해 갖게 되는 희망입니다. <션·정혜영은 서로의 손을 꽉 잡으며 녹화 내내 서로에 대한 애정을 뛰어넘은 신뢰를 보였다. ‘힐링캠프’ MC들이 짜증을 낼 정도로 질투 섞인 부러움을 받아야 했지만 이들은 직접 저술한 책 ‘오늘 더 행복해’의 제목처럼 오늘, 지금 이 순간을 중요하게 생각하는 부부였다. 첫째 딸 하음이가 유치원 때 한글을 못 떼고 초등학교에 입학한 사실에 대해 션은 “다른 사람들이 사랑이라는 글을 읽어도 정확한 뜻은 모를 거다. 하지만 하음이는 사랑의 뜻이 정확히 뭔지 알고 있기 때문에 조금 늦어도 괜찮다.”>는 말을 전해 주기도 했기 때문입니다.
<션·정혜영 부부의 네 아이 교육관은 지금 이 순간에 아이들과 한 번이라도 더 눈을 맞추고 함께 즐거운 시간들을 추억하는 것이었다. 3~4명의 아이돌보미가 있다는 루머에 이들은 “전혀 아니다. 직접 아이들을 키우고 있다.”고 전했고 “그런 모습들을 보는 게 우리 부부의 행복”이라고 말했다.>는 대목에서는 지난 번 우리 교회에 왔을 때 사실 아직 유치원에 도 들어갔을까 말까하는 아이를 데리고 그 먼 길을 와서 돌보는 모습에서도 다르게 사는 사람이라는 느낌을 받았는데, 이번 기사들은 그 때 일을 떠올리게 했습니다. 정말 션·정혜영은 현재의 가치를 충분히 즐기며 살 줄 아는 부부였다는 누군가의 평가가 정말 공감이 되었습니다.
It seems singer Sean and his wife, Jung Hye-young, recently appeared on the television talk show Healing Camp. Since I rarely watch TV, I didn't see the broadcast myself, but I found out about it belatedly after seeing the deluge of articles plastering the internet. It felt as though media outlets were participating in unison, almost as if they would face closure if they failed to publish a piece about it. Of course, choosing which conversation highlights to report and what critique to offer is the prerogative of the press. Thus, while one article complained, "His remarks felt less like a candid confession and more like an edifying lecture, which was somewhat uncomfortable," other outlets viewed them with a positive and warm perspective.
Reports noted that during the show, the couple touched not only on their philosophy of giving, but also on parenting and education. They gently shared how they refused to raise and educate their children merely in accordance with worldly trends just because everyone else does, choosing instead to walk the path they believe is right. Some dismissed this, remarking, "It was an intensely idealistic approach... but detached from reality, like stories from another world." Yet such dismissals come merely from those unprepared to examine their own lives critically. People invariably tend to measure all things by themselves as the standard.
Fortunately, not all coverage was disparaging, which brings a quiet hope for our world as we begin a new year. One article noted: <Sean and Jung Hye-young held hands tightly throughout the recording, showing a deep trust that surpassed mere affection. Although the show's MCs playfully expressed envious frustration, the couple truly cherished today—this very moment—just like the title of their book, *Happier Today*. Regarding the fact that their eldest daughter, Ha-eum, entered elementary school without having fully mastered reading Korean in kindergarten, Sean remarked, "Others may be able to read the written word 'love' without knowing its true meaning. But Ha-eum knows exactly what love means, so it is completely fine if she is a little late.">
Another excerpt stated: <The educational philosophy of Sean and Jung Hye-young for their four children centers on locking eyes with them just once more in this present moment and creating joyful memories together. Addressing the rumor that they employ three or four nannies, they clarified, "Not at all. We raise our children ourselves," adding, "Watching them grow is where our happiness as a couple lies."> Reading this brought back memories of when they visited our church. Seeing how tenderly they cared for their little child—hardly old enough for kindergarten—after traveling such a long distance, I felt even then that they were people who live differently. I resonated deeply with the assessment that Sean and Jung Hye-young are truly a couple who know how to live while fully appreciating the value of the present.
Dit blyk dat die sanger Sean en sy vrou, Jung Hye-young, onlangs op die televisieprogram Healing Camp verskyn het. Aangesien ek selde televisie kyk, het ek die uitsending self misgeloop, maar ek het later daarvan te wete gekom toe die internet oorstroom is met berigte daaroor. Dit het kompleet gelyk asof elke nuusdiens moes saampraat uit vrees dat hulle gesluit sou word as hulle nie daaroor berig nie. Natuurlik is dit elke joernalis se prerogatief oor watter dele van die gesprek hulle verslag doen en watter kritiek hulle lewer. So het een artikel opgemerk: "Sy woorde het minder soos 'n opregte belydenis gevoel en meer soos 'n vermanende lesing, wat ietwat ongemaklik was," terwyl ander media hulle weer met 'n baie positiewe en hartlike blik beskou het.
Na wat verneem word, het die egpaar tydens die program nie net oor hul vrygewigheidsfilosofie gepraat nie, maar ook oor ouerskap en die opvoeding van hul kinders. Hulle het kalm verduidelik hoe hulle weier om hul kinders volgens die heersende wêreldse strome groot te maak net omdat almal dit doen, en eerder die pad stap wat hulle as reg beskou. Sommige het dit geringgeskat en gesê: "Dit was 'n uiters idealistiese benadering... maar onrealisties, soos stories uit 'n ander wêreld." Tog is sulke woorde bloot afkomstig van mense wat nie bereid is om hul eie lewens krities te bekyk nie. Mense is immers altyd geneig om hulself as die maatstaf van alle dinge te gebruik.
Gelukkig was nie alle artikels so afbrekend nie, en dit bring 'n sekere hoop vir die wêreld aan die begin van hierdie nuwe jaar. Een berig het byvoorbeeld gemeld: <Sean en Jung Hye-young het mekaar se hande styf vasgehou en regdeur die opname 'n vertroue getoon wat selfs dieper as liefde strek. Al moes hulle jaloerse sydelingse opmerkings van die aanbieders verduur, was hulle 'n egpaar wat vandag—hierdie einste oomblik—na waarde skat, net soos die titel van hul boek, *Vandag Nog Gelukkiger*. Oor die feit dat hul oudste dogter, Ha-eum, nog nie Koreaans vlot kon lees toe sy laerskool toe is nie, het Sean opgemerk: "Ander mense kan dalk die woord 'liefde' lees sonder om die ware betekenis daarvan te verstaan. Maar Ha-eum weet presies wat liefde beteken, en daarom is dit heeltemal reg as sy 'n bietjie later daarmee is.">
'n Ander uittreksel het gelui: <Sean en Jung Hye-young se opvoedingsfilosofie vir hul vier kinders is om in die huidige oomblik nóg een keer oogkontak met hulle te maak en saam vreugdevolle herinneringe te bou. Wat die gerugte betref dat hulle drie of vier kinderoppassers het, het hulle geantwoord: "Glad nie. Ons maak ons kinders self groot," en bygevoeg: "Om hulle so te sien opgroei, is ons grootste geluk as egpaar."> Hierdie woorde het my herinner aan die tyd toe hulle ons gemeente besoek het. Toe hulle met 'n kind wat skaars kleuterskoolouderdom was die lang reis afgelê het en die kleintjie so liefdevol versorg het, het ek reeds aangevoel dat hulle mense is wat anders leef. Die berigte het daardie herinnering weer vars gemaak. Ek kon myself volkome vereenselwig met iemand se opmerking dat Sean en Jung Hye-young waarlik 'n egpaar is wat weet hoe om die waarde van die hede voluit te geniet.