First-gen 'Ulzzang' Hong Younggi: From prison fan letters to marrying at 18

Influencer Hong Younggi, a star of the first generation of internet celebrities, has drawn attention by candidly sharing stories ranging from her popularity during her 'Ulzzang Generation' days to her marriage at a young age and unique anecdotes about her life with her husband.

Appearing on the YouTube channel No Back Tak Jae-hoon on the 8th, Hong shared various stories about her life as an 'Ulzzang' who led the online culture of the late 2000s and her life thereafter.

During the broadcast, Hong explained why she gained explosive popularity while appearing on 'Ulzzang Generation,' saying, "I think people liked me because, unlike other Ulzzang friends, I showed them an honest side without pretense."

In particular, she surprised the cast by revealing an anecdote that showed the intense interest from fans she hadn't expected at the time. Hong revealed, "When I was in high school, a letter arrived at my school, and it was a fan letter from a prison."

When the MCs, surprised by the fact that the letter came from a prison, asked, "Weren't you scared?", Hong replied, "Not at all." She shared her feelings at the time, saying, "I was actually grateful that I could be a source of strength to someone and make them smile even in a difficult place."

She recalled that the fan letter contained the message, "I am always smiling and living a joyful life thanks to you, Younggi," adding, "Seeing those words made me think I should work even harder."

Hong continued her honest storytelling not only about her broadcasting activities but also about her personal life. She revealed that she met her current husband while working as a fitting model and introduced their special connection, saying, "My husband was my ideal type."

She did not hide the background of why she married at the young age of 21. Hong explained, "I got married because I became pregnant." When it was mentioned that her eldest son is now a middle school student, MC Tak Jae-hoon joked, "Later on, I think people will call you a 'noona' (older sister) rather than a mom," to which Hong drew laughter by responding, "Actually, when my son's friends come to the house, they say, 'Your mom is really pretty.'"

She also showed a playful side regarding her relationship with her husband. To the question, "Do you live under your husband's thumb?", Hong showed affection by saying, "It feels more like I'm the one controlling him," and "My husband is a really kind person."

While sharing realistic stories about the couple, an episode regarding her husband's vasectomy was also revealed. Hong stated, "My husband had a vasectomy when he was 21," and explained, "It was a decision we made after having our second child."

She explained the situation at the time, saying, "I told him to do it right after we had the first child, but my husband said, 'A second child will never happen. I will be careful.' However, a second child was eventually conceived."

She added, "After that, my husband had no choice but to go to the hospital immediately without saying a word," bringing laughter to the set.

When Tak Jae-hoon jokingly remarked, "There is a story that the doctor gave him a discount because he felt bad for him," Hong replied, "I think they said they gave him a circumcision as a service."

Upon hearing this, Shin Kyu-jin shouted, "Even though he hadn't even had a circumcision!", causing the scene to erupt in laughter.

Hong's honest remarks drew interest as they went beyond simple variety show episodes, showing the process of change and growth of an influencer who lived under public scrutiny from a young age. From an online star to a mother who formed a family and a content creator, her attitude of revealing her life without embellishment served as another highlight of the broadcast.

Born in 1992, Hong became famous as a representative figure of the 2000s 'Ulzzang culture,' and she married Lee Se-yong, who is three years younger, in 2012, and has two sons. In particular, it drew significant attention at the time of her marriage when it was revealed that her husband was 18 years old.