"I’ll Give My All, Even My Life" 74-Year-Old Lee Yong-sik Gives Granddaughter a Luxury First-Birthday Party at a Top Hotel

[Sportschosun reporter Kim Soo-hyun] Lee Yong-sik, 74, moved hearts by promising that he would give his granddaughter everything, even his life.

On the TV Chosun program "Lovers of Joseon" aired on the 15th, Lee Yong-sik gave his granddaughter a lavish first-birthday party.

The whole family set out at 7 a.m. to prepare for the celebration. Lee Yong-sik looked back and said, "How did we get through Soo-min’s first-birthday party?" Lee Soo-min laughed and said, "I heard my 100-day celebration lasted two days."

Lee Soo-min’s 100-day celebration was held on a grand scale. As the long-awaited daughter of Lee Yong-sik and his wife after eight years, the event drew as many as 170 celebrity guests. What is usually a simple family meal turned into a huge celebration.

Won I-yeol’s first-birthday party for granddaughter Won I-yeol was held at a luxury hotel. Even premium return gifts were prepared for the one-year-old.

The first guest to arrive was Park Soo-hong. Lee Yong-sik said happily, "It’s so moving. He ranked first in a vote among 17 first-birthday party hosts. I’m grateful he came despite being busy."

At the lavish celebration, Won-hyuk took the microphone and was overcome with emotion again as he thought of his wife, breaking into tears.

During the traditional first-birthday selection ceremony, Won I-yeol chose a building instead of the microphone everyone had expected. Rather than showing disappointment, Lee Yong-sik joked that he would look into buying the building his granddaughter wanted, drawing laughter as he looked out the window.

Lee Yong-sik expressed his love for his granddaughter, saying, "I’ll always be by your side. Trust me and do everything you want to do!"

Lee Yong-sik also read a letter he had written for his daughter, Lee Soo-min. He said, "When you said you were going to marry Won-hyuk, I opposed it for no other reason than... I had lost my mind!" drawing laughter.

He continued, "Now that I’ve come to my senses, I can’t help but wonder what would have happened if you hadn’t gotten married. Just thinking about it is terrifying. My daughter made the right choice." He also expressed gratitude to his son-in-law, Won-hyuk.

Lee Yong-sik confessed, "I was so busy when I had you that I can’t even remember how I raised you. The love I couldn’t give you then, I will now give to Won I-yeol. I will pour everything I have into Won I-yeol, even my life."

shyun@sportschosun.com