Jin So-ri named Miss Chunhyang 2026; father Kim Bong-gon notes her 8 years in Seoul

Jin So-ri, the second daughter of Kim Bong-gon—widely known as the 'Cheonghak-dong Teacher'—is embarking on a new challenge after being selected as 'Miss Chunhyang 2026 Jeong (Virtue).' Growing up in the traditional setting of Cheonghak-dong, Jin is expanding her professional horizons beyond beauty pageants into musical theater, signaling a shift in her family's presence in popular culture.

On the 1st, Jin appeared on the KBS 1TV 'Morning Forum' segment 'Famous Together' alongside her father, Kim Bong-gon, and her younger sister, Kim Da-hyun, to share recent updates. She revealed that she was selected as 'Miss Chunhyang 2026 Jeong' at the Chunhyang Festival Global Chunhyang Selection Contest and announced that she has also been cast as a female lead in a musical, marking her debut in acting.

The Chunhyang Selection Contest goes beyond a simple beauty pageant; it serves to connect tradition with modern popular culture by utilizing the classic Korean narrative of the 'Tale of Chunhyang' as a cultural asset. Chunhyang is a character that has been reinterpreted across various genres, including plays, films, dramas, and musicals, originating from Joseon-era pansori-style novels. Jin's selection is significant as it represents a fusion of traditional cultural symbolism and modern entertainment activities.

Regarding her appearance, Jin mentioned that she resembles both of her parents. "I look half like my mother and half like my father," she said, adding, "I often hear that my eyes look like my father's."

Her upbringing stands in stark contrast to the life of her father. Jin stated that she moved to Seoul in her first year of middle school and has now been living in the city for eight years. While acknowledging the convenience of urban life, she expressed nostalgia for her hometown, recalling memories of her father personally making a swing for her in Cheonghak-dong.

Despite his long residence in Seoul, Kim confessed that he is still not accustomed to urban apartment culture. He noted that the family moved to Seoul when his daughter Kim Da-hyun entered an arts high school, adding, "Apartments are uncomfortable. We should be living on the ground, but since we live on the 16th floor, it doesn't feel like I'm truly sleeping."

In contrast, the rest of the family felt differently. Kim remarked, "These days, regardless of whether it is day or night or the weather, delivery comes and everything can be done with just one button, so it is convenient," noting that while his wife and daughters enjoy Seoul life, he is the only one struggling to adapt, which drew laughter.

Kim Da-hyun also emphasized the convenience of city life. She described Seoul as "another world," noting that while she had to travel 20 to 30 minutes by car to get specific foods in the countryside during her childhood, she can easily order food through delivery apps in Seoul. She added a joke about gaining weight since moving to Seoul, maintaining the family's lighthearted atmosphere.

As seen in the recent updates of Kim Bong-gon's family, the contrast between tradition and modernity appears repeatedly. Unlike Kim, who is known to the public through the symbols of the Cheonghak-dong village school and his role as a teacher, his daughters are expanding their respective career paths based on the educational and cultural environment of Seoul. In particular, as Kim Da-hyun builds public recognition in the music field as a trot singer, and Jin So-ri enters the new realms of Miss Chunhyang and musical theater, the sisters' paths are diverging in different ways.

During the broadcast, Kim Da-hyun also revealed plans for a nationwide tour concert and the release of a studio album. While Kim, who rose to fame through trot competition programs, is expanding her musical territory by balancing performances and albums, Jin is carving out a new path by linking traditional culture with beauty pageants and performing arts.

Kim is also meeting the public not just as a personality introducing life in Cheonghak-dong, but as a figure showcasing the growth and activities of his family. Unlike the past, where the strong character of the 'Cheonghak-dong Teacher' defined the family's identity, his children are now creating independent domains in popular culture through their own choices and abilities.

For Jin, 'Miss Chunhyang' is less a destination and more a starting point for new activities. As she stands before the public through the traditional symbol of Chunhyang, attention is focused on what kind of acting skills she will demonstrate on her next stage as a musical lead. The Kim Bong-gon family is also expanding their sphere of activity beyond the traditional space of Cheonghak-dong into the broader realm of modern popular culture, including music, performances, and broadcasting.