Kim Jungtae's Son Jihoo Diagnosed With Asperger's

Actor Kim Jung-tae's son, Jihoo, has been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. Asperger's syndrome is a type of autism spectrum disorder characterized by normal intelligence and language development but difficulties with social interaction and communication.

In a pre-release video for TV Chosun's entertainment show "Dad and I," Kim Jung-tae and his wife visited a hospital for their son Jihoo's psychological evaluation. Kim Jung-tae's wife explained, "We decided to get the diagnosis because Jihoo wants to go to a high school with a dormitory." Before the test, Jihoo appeared worried, saying, "I think my heart will break if I hear it from the doctor," and added, "I don't like other people knowing about me."

Regarding Jihoo's test results, the doctor stated, "It indicates he has Asperger's." The doctor also expressed surprise at Jihoo's test results, saying, "​Out of 7,000 to 8,000 children, Jihoo is the first to finish this so perfectly and quickly. He's in the top 0.5%." The doctor added, "It will be an issue whether Jihoo decides to disclose that he has Asperger's or not."

Jihoo, who was known as 'Yakkoong-i' on the past show 'The Return of Superman,' has grown into a 16-year-old teenager and is known to speak six languages. In the video, Jihoo immersed himself in his favorite subject by singing an animation theme song in English. Kim Jung-tae commented on his son's interests, saying, "​His interests are very unique. While it can be seen as special, he has hobbies that might make it difficult for him to socialize with peers."

Jihoo's mother revealed her thoughts on his symptoms, stating, "He gets absorbed in topics he likes but doesn't pay much attention when others speak," believing he has Asperger's syndrome. She also shared that "​he has difficulty understanding others' feelings but has an outstanding ability to focus on specific areas, especially English," indicating a coexistence of strengths and weaknesses. Kim Jung-tae previously mentioned that Jihoo seemed to use English more comfortably, making his Korean sound hesitant.