Running Man star Kim Jong-kook ties the knot in private marriage ceremony
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Television personality Kim Jong-kook tied the knot with his non-celebrity partner in a private ceremony on Sept 5.
PHOTO: KJK76/INSTAGRAM
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SEOUL – South Korean singer and television personality Kim Jong-kook tied the knot with his non-celebrity partner in a private ceremony on Sept 5.
The marriage took place at a hotel in Gangnam, Seoul, and was attended by about 100 family, relatives and close friends, South Korean newspaper The Korea Times reported on the same day.
Kim’s longtime friend, South Korean comedian-host Yoo Jae-suk, was reportedly the host of the ceremony. The identity of Kim’s wife remains unknown, with reports saying the wedding was held under such tight security that it resembled a “007 operation”, according to South Korean newspaper The Chosun Ilbo.
Kim, 49, announced his wedding plans on Aug 18 via a photo of a handwritten letter posted on his official fan forum.
“I’m getting married,” he wrote in the letter, saying that while he had “tried dropping hints here and there”, the news would likely surprise many fans.
“This year’s my 30th debut anniversary and, instead of making the album I wanted, I made my ‘other half’ instead,” he added.
In May, he bought a luxury apartment in Seoul’s Gangnam district, which he later referred to as his “newlywed home” during a variety show appearance in June, sparking speculation of upcoming nuptials.
Kim made waves as part of the South Korean duo Turbo in 1995 before going solo as a singer. He won Artiste of the Year awards from all three major South Korean broadcasters in 2005 – making him only the second artiste to achieve that sweep since South Korean singer Cho Yong-pil in the 1980s.
Fans outside South Korea know Kim best from Running Man (2010 to present), where he has been a main cast member since 2010. The South Korean variety show has become a global hit, particularly across Asia, with Kim’s buff physique and no-nonsense attitude making him one of its most recognisable personalities.
His fitness-focused YouTube channel, Gym Jong Kook, has accumulated 3.16 million subscribers since its launch in 2021. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
