On February 2, a new episode of the web variety program Zzanbro Shin Dong-yup was released, featuring guests Ryu Hyun-jin, Hwang Jae-gyun, Son Ah-seop, and Bae Ji-hyun. During the episode, casual conversation among the guests unexpectedly touched on themes of marriage, first love, and divorce.
Bae Ji-hyun mentioned Hwang Jae-gyun’s close friendship with Ryu Hyun-jin, saying that Hwang knew many things about Ryu’s past and was good at keeping secrets. Hwang jokingly replied that Ryu wouldn’t know his past relationships, prompting Ryu to say Hwang didn’t know Ryu’s dating history either.
At that point, Shin Dong-yup chimed in, lightening the mood by saying, “Didn’t we all end up marrying our first love? That’s how it was for all of us, right?” before turning to Hwang and adding, “You too, Jae-gyun.”
Hwang Jae-gyun quietly replied, “Yes, mine was my first love too,” letting out a deep sigh as he lifted his glass, a brief but telling reaction that drew attention from viewers. Sensing the emotional weight of the moment, Shin Dong-yup quickly stepped in with reassurance, saying, “Divorce isn’t a crime. You were young. These days, so many people get divorced. Seo Jang-hoon always says this is a story that belongs to all of us.”
Later in the episode, Hwang shared his thoughts on Ryu Hyun-jin and Bae Ji-hyun’s marriage, praising their compatibility. He remarked that Ryu knows little outside of baseball and that Ji-hyun is someone who complements him perfectly, adding that he genuinely believes the two made a great decision in marrying each other.
Hwang Jae-gyun married Jiyeon, a member of T-ara and an actress, in 2022, but the couple divorced in 2024. The brief exchange on the show, along with Shin Dong-yup’s candid remarks, sparked discussion online, with many viewers appreciating the honest and empathetic approach to a topic that still carries social stigma in Korea.
Sources: Nate
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