The show 'My Ugly Duckling', which many thought would never end, will see singer Kim Jong-kook (49) getting married.
According to officials from SBS's entertainment program 'Running Man' on the 18th, Kim Jong-kook revealed his marriage news during the opening of the broadcast recording. His marriage announcement will be aired on September 7.
Sources indicate that some fellow celebrities, including Haha and Song Ji-hyo, were not aware of Kim Jong-kook's marriage plans beforehand.
Kim Jong-kook did not hint at his marriage to the members or the staff, including his manager, until just before the recording began. As a result, the scene was reportedly filled with shock at his marriage announcement.
According to his agency Turbo JK Company, Kim Jong-kook's fiancée is a non-celebrity. He plans to hold a private ceremony, inviting only close family and friends to respect her privacy.
Kim Jong-kook shared his thoughts on marriage through a handwritten letter posted on his fan cafe. He stated, "This year marks my 30th anniversary since debut, but instead of making the album I wanted, I made my other half. Still, I hope you will congratulate and support me," adding, "Although it's late, how fortunate it is to be going this way."
He continued, "I will live well. I plan to hold a small and quiet wedding in the near future. I will strive to be a hardworking and diligent Kim Jong-kook."
As the process of his marriage announcement will be revealed on 'Running Man', there is anticipation for how he will appear on the variety show 'My Ugly Duckling', where he has consistently featured with his mother. In this regard, the show's representatives stated, "There are no planned items related to Kim Jong-kook."
The news of Kim Jong-kook's marriage has also sparked a strong reaction in the Chinese-speaking world. The phrase 'Kim Jong-kook marriage official announcement' topped the real-time trending searches on the Chinese social media platform Weibo.
As 'Running Man' has enjoyed long-standing popularity in China, attention has naturally turned to Kim Jong-kook's developments.
Some have revisited the fact that Kim Jong-kook recently mentioned purchasing a luxury villa on air. At that time, he bought a high-end villa in Gangnam's Nonhyeon-dong for about 6.2 billion won in cash without a loan, which led to marriage rumors. He caught attention by stating on the show, "Shouldn't I prepare for marriage?"
Currently, Kim Jong-kook is in the middle of 'Running Man' recordings and is expected to finish his schedule later this afternoon. With fellow 'My Ugly Duckling' members Kim Jong-min and Kim Jun-ho recently getting married, the broadcasting industry is set to be filled with romance.
Kim Jong-kook debuted as a member of Turbo in 1995, marking his 30th year this year. He has achieved great success with team hits like 'Remembrance' and 'Black Cat Nero', as well as solo songs like 'One Man', 'My Place', and 'Lovely', winning 'Song Awards' as well.
He is currently focusing more on his variety show activities than his singing career.
