On July 11, Koreaboo reported that singer Hong Kyung Min shared funny details about his close friend Kim Jong Kook’s married life, revealing that the Running Man the star’s passion for working out hasn’t changed, even after she got married.
According to Hong Kyung Min, Kim Jong Kook has always prioritized the gym above everything else. Before marriage, the singer famously organized his entire schedule around his workouts. Friends in the entertainment industry reportedly knew exactly where Kim Jong Kook was whenever he called.
“Kim Jong Kook only called me or other celebrities in three situations: on the way to the gym, while working out, or on the way home from the gym,” Hong Kyung Min joked.
Hong Kyung Min said that everyone expected Kim Jong Kook to change after the wedding, but that never happened. Instead, the singer reportedly left his new bride at home after the wedding reception to complete her usual workout. “The wedding took place around 5 or 6 p.m. After the ceremony ended later that night, Kim Jong Kook went to the gym again. He left his wife at home after the wedding. I have never seen anything like this in my life,” Hong Kyung Min laughed.
He added that, for Kim Jong Kook, exercise is almost a sacred ritual. “For him, training is like a sacred ceremony, almost as important as marriage itself. Fortunately, his wife is very understanding.”
Born in 1976, Kim Jong Kook is one of South Korea’s most successful entertainers, achieving great success in music, television and variety shows. He remains the only male solo singer to win the Daesang (Grand Prize) awards of KBS, MBC and SBS in the same year (2005). Throughout Asia, he is best known as one of the longtime stars of Running Manwhere his exceptional strength earned him nicknames such as “Commander” and “Sparta-kook”.
Kim Jong Kook officially married in September 2025, ending years of speculation about his love life. The wedding took place at a luxury hotel in Gangnam, Seoul, with fewer than 100 guests, including only family and close friends. Security was reportedly so tight that no wedding photos were leaked.
According to Sports Chosun, his wife is a Korean-American entrepreneur born in Los Angeles and is 11 years younger than the singer. He currently serves as the CEO of a cosmetics company and Korean media reported that the couple had been dating since 2020 before getting married.
Before their wedding, Kim Jong Kook reportedly purchased a 6.2 billion won (about $4.5 million) luxury home in Nonhyeon-dong, Seoul, to serve as a residence for the newlyweds.
Sources: kenh14
