Kim Jong Kook Finally Reveals His Wife's True Identity, Addresses 20-Year Age Gap Rumors

Kim Jong Kook married in a secret ceremony.
He finally revealed his wife's true identity.
The couple's dating period was not long.

In a move that thrilled fans and surprised industry insiders alike, the notoriously private Kim Jong Kook officially ended his long-standing bachelor status on September 5, 2025. The beloved singer and "Running Man" star exchanged vows in an incredibly secretive ceremony held at a luxury 'J' Hotel in Seoul's Gangnam district.

True to his character, Jong Kook managed to keep almost every detail under wraps, earning the event the fitting nickname 'The Mission 007 Wedding' for its spy-level secrecy. Reports from outlets like MyDaily revealed that the venue was kept confidential until the absolute last minute, with guests only receiving the location the day before. In a strict move to ensure privacy, the guest list was capped at under 100 people, and his high-profile celebrity attendees were personally requested to not bring their managers and to come alone.

This ultra-private approach was unsurprising to those who know him, as he had successfully kept his entire relationship out of the public eye, shocking even his closest cast mates on shows like "Running Man." The news left everyone wondering about the mysterious woman who had finally captured the heart of Korea’s most famous bachelor.

Kim Jong Kook Reveals the Truth About His Bride

The moment fans had been waiting for finally arrived on the September 11th episode of KBS’s "Problem Child in the Rooftop Room." As a newlywed, Jong Kook became the center of attention and used the platform to address the swirling rumors about his new wife's identity directly.

He set the record straight on several key speculations that had dominated online forums since the announcement.

"She doesn’t work in fitness, and there isn’t a 20-year age gap. The reason there weren’t any sightings is simply because our dating period wasn’t that long," he clearly stated.

This candid explanation put to rest initial unconfirmed media reports that had speculated his bride was the CEO of a cosmetics company.

His co-host Kim Sook humorously called him out on the extreme secrecy, joking, "I thought you were marrying a doll because you kept it a secret," which drew laughter from the cast.

The episode also featured heartfelt and hilariously realistic married-life advice from veteran actor Park Young-gyu, who told a flustered Jong Kook.

"Give everything to your wife. Give her the safe key, give her all the passwords," advice Park Young-gyu to Kim Jong Kook.

This clarification from Jong Kook himself also served to correct a fleeting rumor from 2020, where a fan claimed to have seen him in Los Angeles with a "beautiful Korean-American woman" and assumed she was his girlfriend.

Addressing the Past and Moving Forward to a New Future

This period of happy news also brought old rumors back to the surface. Earlier in July, speculation about a past relationship with actress Yoon Eun Hye was reignited when photos resurfaced online.

The images, dated June 10, 2008, showed both celebrities at the same tanning salon on the same day, with nearly identical background proof shots. This once again fueled the long-standing dating rumors that began during their time together on the iconic show "X-Man." The speculation was further amplified by a striking parallel in their separate stories.

Yoon Eun Hye once shared on YouTube about a boyfriend whose texts became less frequent, prompting her to write them all down in a notebook as a gift. This directly mirrored a story Jong Kook told on "My Ugly Duckling" in 2018, where he revealed, "There was someone who used to write down the texts I sent by hand. My texts got shorter over time," and even showed the notebook he received.

Beyond his personal life, Kim Jong Kook also announced major professional news, aligning his future with the forward-moving AI entertainment company, Galaxy Corporation. This exciting move places him in the same agency as mega-stars like G-Dragon and actor Song Kang-ho. The agency’s CEO, Choi Yong-ho, expressed honor in welcoming the multi-talented entertainer, signaling a new and innovative chapter in Jong Kook's already illustrious three-decade-long career. It seems that for Kim Jong Kook, 2025 is a year of profound and happy new beginnings, both at home and at work.

Source: Koreaboo, KBS’s Problem Child in the Rooftop Room, MyDaily, Chosun Biz