[Summary] Yoon Jeonghee and Baek Geon-woo's Closest Aides "Couldn't Sleep, Shocked... Baek Geon-woo to Return to Korea and Make a Statement"

Photo by Yoon Jeong-hee and Baek Geon-woo couple. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] Actress Yoon Jeong-hee (77) and her husband, pianist Baek Gun-woo (75), along with their daughter, have expressed strong denial against claims that Yoon has been neglected in France. Close associates of Baek and Yoon described the allegations as "absurd."

An anonymous close associate A, who has been close to the couple for over 23 years, said on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 8th, "There is a petition circulating that is completely untrue, so they are very shocked and confused."

He continued, "The claim that Yoon Jeong-hee has been neglected is a blatant lie. Last fall, on Yoon Jeong-hee's birthday, the family went to a restaurant and took photos together. I also received photos of a family party with their daughter and grandchild last Christmas," adding, "Baek Gun-woo took the photos with his phone and sent them to me. Saying they haven't met for two years is truly an absurd lie."

A said, "There is one thing in that petition I can agree with: that she looks 20 years older than her age," explaining, "Even if not 20 years, Yoon Jeong-hee has been staying at home due to illness after being active for a long time, so she doesn't dress up or dye her hair, making her look like a grandmother with white hair."

He added, "Her aged appearance is truly pitiful," and explained why he cannot provide videos or photos of Yoon, saying, "Because she doesn't wear makeup and stays at home, she looks that way, so I cannot share those photos."

Furthermore, A said, "Baek Gun-woo is already struggling to care for the patient, and with this situation, he seems unable to sleep at all. I spoke with him yesterday morning, and although it was dawn in France, he answered the phone, which shows he is not sleeping," and added, "Baek Gun-woo plans to come to Korea on February 10 and will either hold an interview or make a statement, though not a press conference."

Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition Board capture

Earlier, on the 5th, a petition titled "Please save the actress *** who is fading away day by day, isolated from the outside world" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board. The petitioner claimed, "Yoon, who is separated from her husband, is not receiving care from her spouse and is battling Alzheimer's and diabetes alone in an apartment on the outskirts of Paris," adding, "Although her daughter lives nearby, she is busy with her job and family life and cannot properly care for her mother."

The petitioner further stated, "We have repeatedly requested that siblings be allowed to freely call and visit, but phone calls are limited to once a month for 30 minutes, and visits are restricted to once every three months, like visiting a prisoner in jail," adding, "Her personal freedom is severely violated, and basic human rights cannot be found."

Yoon debuted in 1966 with the film 'Cheongchun Geukjang' and married Baek in 1976, after which she moved to France. She played an Alzheimer's patient in her last work, director Lee Chang-dong's 'Poetry' in 2010. Since 2019, Yoon has not appeared publicly, and it was later revealed that she has been battling Alzheimer's for 10 years.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.