Kim Dong-wook Reveals Marriage Behind-the-Scenes with Stella Kim, Who Almost Debuted with Girls' Generation

Actor Kim Dong-wook appeared on the YouTube channel 'Zzan-han Hyung Shin Dong Yup' on the 25th, revealing the behind-the-scenes story of his marriage to his wife and how things have changed since becoming a father.

Regarding his dating period with his wife, Stella Kim, Kim Dong-wook stated, "We met for a very short time. We got married 7 months after the formal meeting of the families, and during that time, we were living far apart for 4 months. My wife was in New Jersey, USA, and I was, of course, in Korea. We only dated for 3 months when she came on vacation, and immediately after that, we held the formal meeting and set the wedding date."

Having held his wedding ceremony 1 year and 3 months after they began dating, he noted that the wedding venue held special meaning. "We married at Myeongdong Cathedral. Both of our religions are the same, and my father-in-law and mother-in-law also had their wedding at Myeongdong Cathedral, so it was quite meaningful," he said, highlighting their shared religious background.

He continued, "The location of my first date with my wife was also Myeongdong Cathedral. We didn't go to the cathedral on purpose; we were having our first date and were wondering where to go, so we went to Myeongdong. Then someone said, 'There is a famous cathedral here,' which led to our first date."

The participants offered congratulations to Kim Dong-wook, who welcomed a daughter this past February. Observing Kim Dong-wook's much brighter expression, Shin Dong Yup remarked, "When a child is born and you look at them, your expression naturally becomes brighter."

Kim Dong-wook smiled warmly and said, "I definitely laugh much more. I keep smiling while looking at the baby and speaking softly, so I end up laughing a lot."

However, he also shared the realistic hardships of parenting. "Sometimes I end up having a 'Hwa-cance' (toilet vacation). When things get tough, I find myself saying, 'I'll be right back from the bathroom' very often. I sit in the bathroom and look at my phone or watch some YouTube," he shared, noting that no one is immune to the challenges of childcare.

Kim Dong-wook married Stella Kim, who is 7 years younger, on December 7, 2023. Stella Kim, a Korean-American, was a former SM Entertainment trainee who was part of the lineup for the Girls' Generation debut but was unable to debut in the entertainment industry due to her parents' opposition. She currently works as a beauty brand marketer, traveling between the US and Seoul.