On August 18, 2025, South Korea’s beloved “Nation’s Little Brother” and Running Man powerhouse, Kim Jong-kook, dropped the bombshell: he’s getting married! He shared the news in a handwritten letter on his fan café, saying he’s more nervous than he ever imagined and hopes fans will cheer him on as he enters this new chapter.
He posted a handwritten letter on his fanclub
"Hello, I'm Kim Jong Kook.
I've always prepared in my heart that one day I'll write this and post it myself, but as I prepare this kind of writing, I'm more nervous and nervous than I imagined.
I'm posting this to let the fans know first of all to the fans who have always believed and supported me for such a long time and have always been on Kim Jongkook side.
I'm getting married.
Actually, I did say that it was a little obvious... but I'm sure there are a lot of people who feel it suddenly. This year marks the 30th anniversary of my debut, and I didn't make the album to make it, but I made my half. Please still congratulate me and support me..
It's very late, but how fortunate is it to go like this?
I will try to live well.
The wedding ceremony is not as big as possible in the near future, and we are planning to hold it quietly with family members and some old acquaintances.
Thanks to the fans who have always been a great help for a long time, I'm getting married and taking on new challenges in my life.
I will be Kim Jongkook who works harder and lives harder.
Thank you."
Who’s the Mystery Bride?
So who’s the lady? Here’s the twist—nobody knows. Kim’s agency hasn’t revealed her identity, and Kim himself kept the details under wraps, likely to protect her privacy.
Fans have been whispering about hints he dropped, but nothing’s confirmed. It’s all hush-hush, and honestly, that adds to the charm—keeps things real, ya know?
Career Highlights—From Turbo to TV Icon
The Turbo Days and Solo Fame
Back in the '90s, Kim shot to stardom as half of the iconic K-pop duo Turbo. Fast forward to the 2000s and beyond, he broke out solo, dropping hit albums and chart-topping singles—like “Lovable” and the album This Is Me, which sold over 300,000 copies by mid-2006. That’s no small feat!
Variety King and YouTube Star
But the guy didn’t stop there. He’s morphed into one of Korea’s biggest TV personalities. From variety shows like X-man and Family Outing to becoming a longstanding star on Running Man, he’s become “Mr. Reliable” of entertainment.
Along the way he’s bagged grand prizes (Daesangs), every couple of years—like at the SBS Entertainment Awards in 2020 and again in later years.
And hey, how cool is this—he launched a fitness YouTube channel called Gym Jong Kook back in June 2021. Hit 100,000 subs in just five minutes, and one million in four days. That’s dedication, right there.
Family: Roots That Ground Him
While Kim’s love life is a private matter now, his family remains quietly supportive. He was born in Hapcheon, grew up in a humble household, and credits his early success to their support.
Despite whirlwind fame, he’s kept parents and siblings close—no frills, just caring roots. That down-to-earth upbringing still shines through in his gentle humor and grounded attitude, even as he heads into married life.
Net Worth 2025: How Much Is He Worth?
Numbers on this fellow vary—some say he’s sitting on around $16 million, while others point to a figure closer to $36 million, or even estimate around 50 billion won.
To break it down: that’s roughly between $30–36 million USD, give or take. Fans joke that he's “rich in silence”—same guy who’d skip anesthesia to save money—and yet, he drops millions on a house.
A luxury villa worth 6.2 billion won (about $4.3–4.5 million), bought in cash earlier this year.
Putting It All Together: The Man Behind the Muscle
Kim Jong-kook’s life reads like a classic underdog-turned-legend story. He started as a pop idol, reinvented himself a dozen times through solo music, TV, fitness, and now he’s stepping into a new chapter—marriage—three decades into it all.
He’s the guy who buys a multi-million-dollar villa but still reuses wet wipes. Who hits broadcast gold awards, but stays humble at home. And who, even now, prefers to keep his personal life low-key—even about his wife-to-be.
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