After years of being one of Korea’s most famously single celebrities, Kim Jong-kook surprised fans in August 2025 by announcing his marriage, marking a new chapter in his personal life and ending a long-standing era of dating speculations.
But who were the women once rumored to have a special connection with the “Commander” of Running Man? And what has Kim shared over the years about his ideal partner?
Kim Jong-kook’s Ideal Type
In various interviews and TV appearances, Kim described his ideal partner as “someone caring, honest, and not obsessed with appearances — someone with whom I can share a deep connection.”
Despite his fame and attention from fans and media alike, he lived a famously quiet and structured life — even Dispatch reportedly gave up trailing him, saying he only worked out and went home.
Still, Kim Jong-kook was linked with several well-known female celebrities over the years. Let’s revisit the most talked-about rumors.
1. Song Ji-hyo: The SpartAce That Fans Still Ship
Actress Song Ji-hyo, a long-time Running Man co-star, was part of the show’s legendary “SpartAce” duo with Kim. After her loveline with Kang Gary ended, chemistry between her and Kim became a fan favorite.
Despite playful banter and even bold advances from Ji-hyo in recent episodes, she previously clarified, “Kim Jong-kook is the opposite of my ideal type. I prefer someone more like Winnie the Pooh — soft and cuddly.”
She later admitted she initially felt uncomfortable with the forced pairing but eventually leaned into it because of the positive viewer response.
Kim, in turn, consistently denied romantic feelings, saying, “Song Ji-hyo is like family, like a little sister to me.”
Though the two remain close and affectionate on-screen, both have stated there’s nothing romantic between them — yet loyal SpartAce fans still hold hope.
2. Yoon Eun-hye: The Iconic Loveline That Never Faded
In the early 2000s, Yoon Eun-hye and Kim Jong-kook stole hearts with their onscreen chemistry on SBS’s X-Man. One iconic moment — when Kim covered Eun-hye’s ears during a game to avoid hurting her feelings — lives rent-free in every fan’s heart.
Rumors of a real relationship exploded back then, but both denied it, claiming a sibling-like friendship.
Years later, in 2022, fans reignited speculation after Eun-hye shared a YouTube story eerily similar to Kim Jong kook’s past confession on My Little Old Boy. She spoke of gifting her ex a notebook filled with all the text messages he’d sent — a story identical to one Kim shared in 2018.
Although Eun-hye’s agency deleted the video citing a “file error” and denied all romantic involvement, fans still wonder if the two once shared a quiet, private romance.
3. Hong Jin-young: Trot Princess with Bold Energy
Another fan-favorite pairing was with Hong Jin-young, known for her bubbly personality and trot vocals. From Running Man to My Little Old Boy, she openly flirted with Kim Jong-kook, while he — usually rigid and disciplined — melted under her charm.
Their adorable chemistry led them to win the Best Couple Award at the 2018 SBS Entertainment Awards.
Although Kim denied any off-screen romance, he once admitted on Show!terview with Jessi that Hong Jin-young was “his ideal type in terms of personality.”
That moment fueled even more fan dreams — even if nothing materialized.
Now, Reality Outshines Rumor
On August 18, 2025, Kim Jong-kook officially announced his marriage during the filming of Running Man and shared a heartfelt letter on his fan café:
“This year marks my 30th debut anniversary. I didn’t make an album — I made a partner for life instead.”
His recent purchase of a ₩6.2 billion villa in Nonhyeon-dong, once joked about as a “newlywed home” in variety shows, turned out to be true all along.
The bachelor era of Kim Jong-kook has come to an end, but for fans who followed his lovelines for nearly two decades, the nostalgia and charm of those “what ifs” remain unforgettable.
Sources: SBS, KBS2, MBC, Dispatch, My Little Old Boy, Running Man, Jessi Showterview.
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