On October 16, Kim Jong-kook uploaded a new video titled “This Isn’t SM Town (Feat. Yunho, Chanyeol, Yuri, Suho, Ma Sun-ho)” on his personal YouTube channel, addressing the reason behind the removal of his previous vlog.

He explained, “Articles started coming out saying I deleted the video to hide the silhouette of my wife — something completely absurd. I saw that story spreading like it was fact, and it was just unbelievable.”

He added, “Sometimes in life, things get twisted or unfair. There were many distorted stories about my wedding too, and although it’s frustrating, I accept that it’s partly my fault for creating situations that gave them ground. I’ll just keep doing my best and live sincerely.”

Kim Jong-kook stressed that he is “not crazy enough to act like that” and insisted that his decision to take down the video was not related to hiding his wife’s image.

Earlier on October 9, Kim Jong-kook had uploaded a vlog from his Paris honeymoon, showing the interior of his hotel room. However, sharp-eyed viewers noticed a faint silhouette of his wife reflected in the window. Shortly after the discovery, Kim Jong-kook set the video to private, which led to speculation that he had done so to conceal her appearance.

While Kim Jong-kook’s clarification aimed to settle the matter, many netizens have pointed out that the issue was never about his wife’s privacy.

Online comments largely agreed that it’s understandable for Kim Jong-kook to protect his non-celebrity wife, who had reportedly requested privacy from the start. The real frustration, they argue, stems from Kim Jong-kook’s inconsistent approach — maintaining secrecy about his marriage while simultaneously using wedding and honeymoon content for publicity and monetized views.

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Kim Jong-kook’s wedding was famously kept under tight secrecy, with guest numbers limited to 100 people (50 from each family). Even the venue was kept confidential until the day before, and according to his Running Man castmates, Kim went as far as to gesture for silence during his walk down the aisle.

Given the extreme privacy of his marriage, many netizens now question why he continues to discuss his wife and newlywed life on multiple TV programs — including Running Man, My Little Old Boy, and Problem Child in House — as well as on his YouTube channel, where he shared everything from guest invitations to honeymoon footage.

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One viral comment read: “If he really wants privacy, he could just stop talking about it. The problem isn’t the hidden wife — it’s the contradiction.”

Despite Kim Jong-kook’s emotional statement about feeling “wronged” by rumors, public sympathy has been limited. Many viewers see his response as missing the point, focusing on denying minor speculation instead of addressing his blurred boundary between privacy and self-promotion.

While fans understand his frustration, the general consensus online is clear — Kim Jong-kook’s “unfairness” speech has only deepened skepticism rather than resolving it.

Sources: 네이트 뉴스