Lee Hyori Brings Yoga Instructor on Set to Support Autistic Youth Participant

Lee Hyori invited Yoo Ji-hoon, a young man on the autism spectrum, to her yoga studio for a one-on-one session aimed at easing his anxiety in the finale of SBS's "Mongle Counseling Center," which aired on March 22.

SBS Special "My Heart is Mongle Mongle - Mongle Counseling Center," directed by Go Hye-rin, is a show that creates first romance experiences for young adults with developmental disabilities. Lee Hyori and her husband Lee Sang-soon served as "Counseling Directors," guiding participants over an eight-week period in their quest to find first love.

The yoga session was a defining moment of the entire run. Lee Hyori comforted Yoo Ji-hoon through yoga, encouraging him: "With more experience, you'll find that things aren't as bad as they seem." Known for candid exchanges and natural chemistry, the two set aside their usual playful banter for the session, and Yoo Ji-hoon responded with a noticeably calmer demeanor.

That calm was no accident. Lee Hyori had used yoga throughout the program to relieve tension and handle mental care for participants. Bringing that practice directly into the finale for Yoo Ji-hoon was a deliberate, targeted choice, not a passing gesture.

Yoo Ji-hoon's mother had reflected on whether he could function in society, teaching him about human psychology and expressions. Thanks to her efforts and the show's support, Yoo Ji-hoon gradually learned and, after starting blind dates, practiced being independent. His second blind date was with Lee Joo-hyun, and he smiled brightly at their shared interests in favorite seasons and comics, surprising Lee Hyori and Lee Sang-soon with his warm compliments. Lee Hyori remarked, "It's the first time I've seen Ji-hoon smile like that," and observed that the two "have a unique connection."

The show's impact extended well beyond the broadcast. As of the second episode, it ranked first in viewership among terrestrial channels in its time slot and secured the eighth spot on Netflix's "Today's Top 10 Series in Korea" as of March 17. A video clip of participant Oh Ji-hyun's first blind date, released on SBS's official social media channels, surpassed 1.3 million views within 24 hours.

In the final selection, two couples confirmed their feelings: Oh Ji-hyun and Park Jun-hyuk, and Jung Ji-won and Song Do-ah. Lee Hyori expressed her gratitude to the participants: "Watching you, I learned a lot and felt healed. Thank you."

What stands out for the yoga community is how deliberately therapeutic the practice was deployed here. This wasn't a celebrity photo op on a mat. It was a structured, intentional intervention: a seasoned practitioner reading a young man's anxiety and meeting him exactly where he was, breath by breath.