Han Hye Jin, known for her appearances on KBS JOY’s Love’s Intervention (aka 'Yeoncham'), has revealed some surprising details about her past relationships and what it means to be a "squid protector."
On the 257th episode of Yeoncham, which aired on January 7, Han Hye Jin shared her thoughts after hearing a story from a man who was having trouble dealing with his obsessive girlfriend.
The girlfriend had gone as far as changing his social media profile to a couple’s photo while he was asleep and even sent a picture to his group chat, announcing their relationship.
Han Hye Jin expressed her disapproval, saying, “That really makes someone look like a fool.” She added, “When someone older says, 'I have a girlfriend! I’m in a relationship!' it makes them look unprofessional in business.” Han Hye Jin also pointed out how obsessive behavior, like making things public and confronting other women, is often a sign of insecurity.
Things took a bizarre turn when the girlfriend confronted a female passenger on the subway after seeing her boyfriend, and the man was left feeling like a “squid” – a term Han Hye Jin explained as someone who is caught in a sticky situation. The girlfriend, on the other hand, became the “squid protector.”
In a candid moment, Han Hye Jin confessed that she too had been a “squid protector” in the past. “In the early stages of a relationship, don’t we all become squid protectors? Don’t we all struggle to protect our own squids?” she admitted.
Psychologist Kwok Jung Eun also chimed in, explaining that there are two types of "squid protectors." One does it out of infatuation, while the other acts out of insecurity, fearing that they lack charm and need to protect their partner.
The man also shared how his girlfriend followed him to his club to confront the women who gave him birthday gifts, and even pressured him into filling out a marriage registration form to ensure her peace of mind.
During the final intervention, Han Hye Jin gave her advice, saying, “She could have boosted his self-esteem, but sometimes you have to ask yourself, 'Why am I keeping such a problematic partner around?' Break up before something worse happens.”
Kwok Jung Eun added a more serious note, saying, “Don’t downplay this as just obsession. It’s only the beginning. The girlfriend may drain the man’s self-esteem over time, and he will eventually collapse if this continues.”
Han Hye Jin has had her own relationship ups and downs. She went public with baseball player Cha Woo Chan in May 2017, but the couple broke up just six months later. She later dated broadcaster and former announcer Jeon Hyun Moo, whom she appeared with on Home Alone in 2018. They admitted to their relationship in February 2018, but broke up in March 2019 after over a year of dating.
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