Former baseball player Yang Jun-hyuk shared the poignant story behind his special bond with his daughter, born when he was 55. After undergoing IVF with his wife Park Hyun-sun, they initially conceived twins, but tragically, one child was lost early in the pregnancy, leaving their daughter Lee Jae as the sole survivor.

The couple's 19-year age difference also made their marriage journey quite challenging. Park Hyun-sun's father initially strongly opposed their union, partly because he was only nine years older than Yang Jun-hyuk. Recently, Yang’s post-retirement life with his family and his ventures in fisheries and dining in Pohang were featured on MBN’s ‘Exclusive World’ where he discussed everything from family stories to his current and upcoming business projects.

At the heart of it all was their daughter, born against the odds.

“It started with twins”...IVF journey ended with the loss of one child.

Yang Jun-hyuk and Park Hyun-sun married in 2021. Despite a significant age gap of 19 years, their daughter Lee Jae was born in December 2024, when Yang was 55. The path to her birth was fraught with challenges, including the heartache of losing one of the twins during the pregnancy.

Initially, Park Hyun-sun was pregnant with twins. However, one child was lost during the pregnancy, and only Lee Jae was born safely. Yang discussed how this made their daughter all the more precious to them, revealing the deep emotional layers behind their seemingly ordinary family life.

Especially for Yang Jun-hyuk, who had spent a long career in professional baseball before marrying at a relatively late age, the birth of his first daughter at 55 was a notable event. This broadcast not only highlighted his ongoing challenges but also shed light on his specific reasons for emphasizing his daughter’s future so strongly.

Park Hyun-sun, once a distant fan, didn’t start as a lover.

The path to marriage was long for the couple. Park Hyun-sun initially crossed paths with Yang as a fan, not immediately considering a romantic relationship. Yang recalled how Park would keep her distance whenever he expressed his feelings, a dynamic that persisted for about a decade. Their casual exchanges over the years only turned serious when marriage discussions began.

When Yang asked why Park hadn’t married, she posed the same question to him, prompting him to promise a good life if she married him. What followed was a transformation of nearly a decade of connection into marital bonds. However, the decision wasn’t solely up to them.

Father-in-law and son-in-law just 9 years apart…“Initially faced strong opposition.”

The stark reality of their age difference posed a significant barrier. Park’s father was born in 1960, making him only nine years older than his son-in-law, Yang, born in 1969. The father initially opposed the marriage fiercely, struggling to accept his daughter marrying a man 19 years her senior. Yang understood the parental concerns, acknowledging that they weren’t familiar with his baseball career, which might have influenced their views.

Over time, the relationship dynamics have completely changed. The father-in-law now works alongside Yang in his sashimi restaurant, reflecting on his initial opposition and sometimes questioning why he had opposed it so staunchly. From opposing the marriage due to the 19-year age gap, he has become a collaborator in his son-in-law’s business venture.

Post-season quiet at the sashimi restaurant; yet, Yang introduces a grander business plan.

Following the family stories, Yang revealed the current state of his business which wasn’t entirely smooth. Since retiring, he has been managing a mackerel farm and a sashimi restaurant in Pohang, but mackerel is highly seasonal. With the peak season over, the restaurant saw noticeable empty seats, and Yang acknowledged the reduced revenue during the off-season, comparing it to the ups and downs of his baseball career.

Yet, an unexpected twist emerged. Instead of downsizing or maintaining his current business scale, Yang is planning an even larger venture. He took his wife and daughter to a vacant large commercial space, revealing very specific plans. The project was not just about using one floor of the building.

6th floor for sashimi, 7th for Korean beef, 8th for a café. Utilizing three floors, he aims to create a landmark that attracts even international tourists, an ambitious expansion despite the current downturn in his sashimi business.

“Until my daughter is an adult”...The reason Yang can’t stop expanding his business.

Yang’s drive to expand his business isn’t solely motivated by a desire for more wealth. Central to his repeated discussions is his family. Conscious of being an older father, he feels a strong need to establish a financial foundation to support his daughter as she grows. Having a family has intensified his resolve to secure their future, a sentiment deeply intertwined with the challenging journey of his daughter’s conception.

After undergoing IVF and experiencing the loss of one twin, Yang finally embraced fatherhood at 55. His daughter’s future looms large in his priorities, but his family-oriented decisions also come with their own sets of challenges.

“It was one-sided back then too”...Park Hyun-sun finally shows tears over the 19-year age gap.

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