She felt trapped in the end.
33 minutes ago
Former Miss Korea and actress Lim Jiyeon once shocked viewers after opening up about her marriage to a wealthy Japanese businessman 16 years her senior. While her lavish lifestyle appeared enviable from the outside, the actress later revealed that life behind closed doors felt far less glamorous.
According to Lim Jiyeon, her marriage came with extravagant financial benefits. She reportedly received a monthly allowance of around ₩50 million KRW (approximately $30,000–35,000 USD).
The lavish gifts didn’t stop there. For her first birthday after marriage, she received a luxury imported car. For her second birthday, her husband reportedly gifted her a building worth approximately ₩6.00 billion KRW (about $3.91 million USD).
However, the actress explained that the wealth came with strict expectations. Among the rules she was expected to follow were no broadcasting or entertainment activities, putting a stop to her work. She had to stay home to support her husband and was accompanied by a driver or secretary whenever she left home Although she lacked nothing financially, Lim Jiyeon admitted that the restrictions gradually became difficult to endure.
The actress eventually described her married life as feeling like a prison without bars. Despite the luxury, she struggled with the loss of independence and freedom that came with the arrangement. Over time, the emotional burden reportedly became too much to bear. Unable to continue living under those conditions, Lim Jiyeon ultimately chose to end the marriage after five years.
She has since returned to the screen and also runs a restaurant in Korea.