Running Man star Kim Jong-kook to wed in private ceremony
Television personality Kim Jong-kook announced his wedding plans via a handwritten letter posted to his official fan forum.
SEOUL - South Korean singer and television personality Kim Jong-kook is officially off the market.
The 49-year-old announced his wedding plans on Aug 18 via a handwritten letter posted to his official fan forum, revealing plans for a private ceremony in Seoul.
'I'm getting married,' Kim wrote in the letter, saying that while he had 'tried dropping hints here and there', the news would likely surprise many fans. The wedding is to take place 'in the near future' with family and close friends in attendance.
The announcement comes just as Kim marks 30 years in entertainment.
'This year's my 30th debut anniversary, and instead of making the album I wanted, I made my 'other half' instead,' he wrote.
The identity of Kim's bride-to-be was not disclosed. In May, he purchased a luxury apartment in Seoul's Gangnam, which he later referred to as his 'newlywed home' during a variety show appearance in June, sparking speculation of possible upcoming nuptials.
'It's very late, but it's such a relief I'm going like this... right?' Kim wrote on Aug 18, addressing his longtime bachelor status. 'I will work hard to live well.'
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Kim first made waves as part of the South Korean duo Turbo in 1995 before going solo as a singer. He eventually 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 also accumulated 3.16 million subscribers since its launch in 2021. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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