Kim Chan-woo Says Jang Dong-gun Stole the Spotlight at His Wedding to a Wife 15 Years Younger

Kim Chan-woo, the 58-year-old Korean actor who first became widely known as a 1990s youth star, looked back on an amusingly bittersweet episode from his own wedding: although he married at 54 to a wife 15 years younger, the person who ended up drawing the most attention was his close friend Jang Dong-gun.

Kim appeared on MBN's program Altoran on May 31 and shared the story behind the ceremony, where Jang served as the host. What should have been a day centered on Kim's marriage, he recalled with humor, became a talking point largely because of Jang's presence.

Kim rose to popularity in the 1990s after appearing with Jang Dong-gun in the MBC drama Our Paradise. He later became beloved by viewers through the SBS sitcom Soonpoong Clinic, where he played the father of Eui-chan, a role that helped keep his image familiar to a broad television audience.

Speaking about the scale of his popularity at the time, Kim said he remembered that when he wore clothing from a particular brand, men would all follow and wear the same thing. He added that he had heard he made people spend too much money back then, and said he could only feel sorry about that.

Now more than four years into married life after tying the knot at 54, Kim also joked about the pros and cons of marriage. He said the good part is having someone to talk to, while the downside is that one starts to lose the desire to talk.

He continued in the same teasing tone, saying that this is what happens to everyone once they get married. According to Kim, once a husband says anything, he gets scolded. He added that every married man he knows lives that way, and even his father, who is 96 years old, still gets scolded.

Returning to the wedding that drew public attention, Kim said Jang Dong-gun had kindly hosted the ceremony for him. But, he joked, that became the only issue people talked about. His own wedding was buried, while Jang alone stood out, a remark that brought laughter as he recounted the moment.

Kim also addressed plans for a child with his wife, who is 15 years younger than him. He said they are trying, and that they will continue trying in the future. He added that he is making an effort to live as though they are always newlyweds.