Kim Kang-woo: 'I liked Ki Sung-yueng, but I opposed his marriage to Han Hye Jin'

Actor Kim Kang-woo has revealed for the first time his inner thoughts from 13 years ago regarding the marriage between former national soccer player Ki Sung-yueng and actress Han Hye Jin. While he highly evaluated Ki as a soccer player, his confession that it was difficult to readily accept him as his sister-in-law's spouse captured the realistic concerns anyone might experience when becoming family, drawing both laughter and empathy.

On the tvN variety program 'You Quiz on the Block' broadcast on the 22nd, Kim and Ki appeared side by side. This was the first time the two appeared together on a variety show, and having worked in different fields as an actor and a sports star, they candidly shared their previously unrevealed daily lives based on their special bond as family.

From the beginning of the broadcast, the two lightened the mood with an interesting anecdote about their appearances. Kim drew laughter from the cast by revealing, "I used an application that finds look-alikes, and Ki Sung-yueng came up as the person I resemble most." In fact, the two have long been mentioned as look-alikes among online communities and fans due to their distinct features and calm impressions.

When host Yoo Jae Suk asked about their relationship as brothers-in-law, Kim replied in his characteristic straightforward manner, "We are not much different from other families." Ki also admitted that while he doesn't find his brother-in-law difficult, there exists a subtle distance where he maintains a certain level of etiquette, offering a glimpse into a realistic family relationship.

The titles they use for each other were also revealed. Kim introduced that he usually calls Ki "Player Ki" or "Son-in-law Ki." Despite the 11-year age difference, the way they use natural titles rather than being overly formal suggested the years they have built up as family.

Kim said that by watching Ki's life as a national team player and professional athlete from up close, he came to understand the unique loneliness and responsibility of an athlete. This is because he witnessed more closely than anyone the psychological pressure and sacrifices an individual athlete must endure in the world of elite sports, where evaluations fluctuate sharply depending on wins and losses.

Ki also stated that he accepts Kim not just as a 'difficult older brother,' but as a family member who understands his life. Although they are in different professional fields of sports and acting, their shared experience as public figures who have worked for a long time under the public eye has broadened their common ground.

However, it took a significant amount of time to form the comfortable relationship they have now. Kim candidly confessed, "I really liked the soccer player Ki Sung-yueng," but "I opposed the matter of him marrying my sister-in-law, Han Hye Jin." He explained that respect for an outstanding athlete and the perspective of looking at a family member's spouse were two entirely different matters.

This confession is read as a natural emotion stemming from a protective instinct toward family. Since the marriage of a public figure goes beyond personal choice and affects the lives of the entire family, it is a common aspect of family culture to consider the spouse's character, responsibility, and a stable future. Kim's remarks were closer to a recollection containing the realistic concerns of a brother-in-law who cherishes his sister-in-law, rather than a negative evaluation of Ki personally.

This anecdote, revealed while Ki was sitting right next to him, turned the studio into a sea of laughter. It was a scene showing that their relationship has deepened enough to talk about those times with comfortable laughter after so much time has passed.

The current atmosphere is very different from the past. Kim joked, "It seems my mother-in-law treats my younger brother-in-law, Ki Sung-yueng, more comfortably than me," saying, "Mother-in-law, please don't find me difficult either," coloring the scene with laughter. In response, Ki naturally reacted, revealing the strong bond between the family members.

This broadcast added meaning in that it showed the ordinary daily life of a family behind the glamorous images of stars. Kim Kang-woo and Ki Sung-yueng have now established themselves as family members who understand and support each other beyond the titles of brothers-in-law, and they playfully proved that the honest inner thoughts regarding the marriage 13 years ago have turned into trust and solidarity as time has accumulated.