Former professional footballer Kang Ji-Yong He tragically died at the age of 36. The news came on April 23, when the athlete colleague Koo Bon-Sangknown to be close to Kang Ji-YongHe shared the obituary through social media. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
The funeral will be held at Cheonan’s Soonchunhyang University Hospital, with the burial scheduled for April 25 at the Cheonan Memorial Park. Survived by his wife and daughter, Kang Ji-YongDeath sent shock waves through sports and entertainment communities.
Born in 1989, Kang Ji-Yong was enrolled in the K League by Pohang Steelers In 2009 and subsequently played for teams like Busan i’Park, Gangwon FC, Bucheon FCand several citizens’ football clubs before retiring in 2022. It recently appeared in February 2025 in JTBC’s reality show Divorce fieldwhere he opened on his life after retirement.
During the show, Kang Ji-Yong revealed that he had delivered his entire earnings from his football career to his parents and was unable to recover the money. Finning financially, he was working in a factory and had not had a formal wedding ceremony with his wife. The couple had recorded their marriage and was raising a daughter. Kang Ji-Yong He also revealed his past attempts to commit suicide because of growing personal struggles.
What attracted the renewed attention to the light of his death is Kang Ji-Yongthe family bond a Weigh it likeA popular solo artist and former member of IZ*One. Fans remember him in 2018, Kang Ji-Yong publicly supported Weigh it like When he was in competition Produce 48encouraging others to vote for her. Weigh it like He had also mentioned in a radio apparition so his cousin played K Lega Teams, to which the fans later connected Kang Ji-Yong.
The couple appeared Divorce field as part of his ninth season. Although they seemed to reconcile themselves in the show with the help of consultancy experts, the recent news prompted JTBC to re -evaluate the transmission and related content.
While fans and Netizen cry sudden loss, many are also revisiting the systemic and personal challenges that have brought to this moment. The outburst of condolences reflects not only Kang Ji-YongThe career, but also on the unresolved difficulties he faced after leaving sport.
