Actor Kim Young-kwang recently shared a touching story about Lee Young-ae.
On the October 15th episode of 'Radio Star,' a special titled 'Box Office Lupin' featured guests Kang Ha-neul, Kim Young-kwang, Kang Young-seok, and Kang Ji-young. The episode achieved a household rating of 4.0%, securing the top spot in its time slot on Wednesday. The 'Best Moment' of the show, with a rating of 4.9%, was when Kim Young-kwang, known as a 'Romantic Comedy Master,' discussed the charming height difference with his female co-stars, standing at 190cm.
Kang Ha-neul, making his fourth appearance on 'Radio Star,' captivated the audience with his polite greetings and bright smile. Kim Gura joked, "He feels like a well-mannered cousin visiting during the holidays," to which Kang Ha-neul responded, "It feels like meeting cousins after a long time," eliciting laughter.
Kang Ha-neul shared a humorous 'isolation incident' from the set of Netflix's 'Squid Game 3,' where he was left alone. "I dozed off under the bed, and when I woke up, the lights were off, and everyone had gone for lunch. I thought I had lost my sight because it was so dark," he recalled, causing laughter. He also revealed a behind-the-scenes story about a 'master of jackstones' who served as his double. "In a scene involving jackstones, a 'Master of Living' was my double," he said, adding, "Even Lee Byung-hun was surprised by their skills."
Kang Ha-neul, known as 'Haneul84' for his down-to-earth lifestyle, shared, "I wear clothes even if they're not fully dry. They dry as I walk," and "I don't have a dining table at home and walk without an umbrella even when it rains." His close friend Kang Young-seok added, "He tapes up his padded jacket even if it's torn," adding to the humor.
The 'teacher-student chemistry' between Kang Ji-young and Kang Ha-neul, who exchange texts in Japanese, was also a topic of interest. "Ji-young sends sentences in Japanese, and I correct them," Kang Ha-neul said, while Kang Ji-young revealed, "His replies are slow," leading to laughter when it was revealed that Kang Ha-neul is now studying Japanese on his own. Their relationship, which began with Kang Ha-neul's admiration, evolved into a teacher-student dynamic, creating a heartwarming atmosphere and a twist that filled the studio with laughter.
The story of the 'Good Deed Vending Machine,' where Kang Ha-neul sent six coffee trucks to director Jang Hang-jun, was revisited. "These days, when the director calls, I assume it's a coffee truck request and reach for my card," he said, adding that he naturally became an ambassador for the Jecheon International Music & Film Festival, bringing laughter.
A heartwarming story about his father was also shared. When Kim Gura asked, "I heard your father closed his noodle shop because you became successful," Kang Ha-neul replied, "That's not the reason. He was planning to relocate the shop and took a break, but he enjoyed the break so much that he decided not to reopen," smiling. Kim Gura added, "He can afford to rest because he's financially stable."
Kim Young-kwang, known as an 'extremely introverted actor,' showcased both his variety show skills and human side. When the MCs asked, "Aren't you in the top three of extremely introverted actors along with Um Tae-goo and Shim Eun-kyung?" he replied, "Not to that extent," but Kim Gura countered, "Um Tae-goo also does variety shows," causing laughter.
Currently filming the drama 'Eunsoo's Good Day' with Lee Young-ae, Kim Young-kwang shared, "She talks more than I expected and shares food she brings herself," adding, "She always greets me with a smile, making me feel comfortable," sharing a heartwarming anecdote.
Lee Young-ae, 54, married businessman Jung Ho-young, 20 years her senior, in 2009 and gave birth to twins in 2011. Jung, born in 1951, graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology and worked in the U.S. IT industry. He founded a Korean telecommunications venture in the late 1980s and served as chairman of the defense industry company Korea Raycom. His wealth is estimated at 2 trillion won.
Regarding Cha Eun-woo, with whom he worked on 'First Ride,' Kim Young-kwang said, "His presence alone is empowering," adding, "We filmed together before his military enlistment, and just seeing him on set was energizing." Reflecting on his past appearance on 'Law of the Jungle,' he said, "I loved it because no one talked to me," revealing his introverted nature and adding humor.
Kang Ha-neul also shared a story about Kim Young-kwang's unexpected charm. "He was quiet during our first meeting, but suddenly he started calling me 'Haneul-ah~,'" he said, mentioning Kim Young-kwang's surprising cuteness, to which Kim Young-kwang explained, "I was just being friendly."
Kang Young-seok, known for his 'energy lupin' vibe, lifted the mood on set and showcased his genuine friendship with Kang Ha-neul, with whom he shares a 15-year bond, providing heartwarming laughter.
He recalled the 'glass window incident' while filming 'Newtopia' with BLACKPINK's Jisoo. "It was a scene where we were being chased by zombies, and while trying to protect Jisoo, the door slammed shut, breaking the glass. Fortunately, no one was hurt," he said. He added humorously, "I caused two accidents that day."
When Kim Gura asked, "Is it true you're interested in side dishes?" Kang Young-seok replied, "I jokingly asked Jisoo to post a photo on SNS," revealing his playful side. Kang Young-seok added, "Director Jang Hang-jun gets coffee trucks from Haneul, but Jisoo gets them from Dior," cleverly responding. "Jisoo received hand cream from Dior, but you had to be on the list to get it. I wanted to give it to my mom and sister, so I tried to get two but got caught," sharing a story full of human warmth.
A heartwarming story about his close friend Kang Ha-neul was also shared. "He gave me a new phone just because I was using an old charger phone," he said, adding humorously, "If he had given it to me two months later, it would have been the latest model." Kang Ha-neul added, "I gave it to him because he deserved it," adding to the warmth.
Kang Ji-young, returning to 'Radio Star' after 12 years, candidly explained the 'cute request tears' video from her past. "I was 19 at the time, and it was unfamiliar and nerve-wracking, so I cried," she said, to which Kim Gura responded, "The atmosphere wasn't that bad back then," causing laughter. Kang Ji-young added, "After that incident, I studied how to be cute," laughing it off.
She also shared behind-the-scenes stories of KARA's 15th-anniversary reunion. "Even though we were all with different agencies, we decided to come together again," she said, adding, "I even used formal language when I first talked to Heo Young-ji." She emphasized, "We're proud to be the only group to have ranked first in the 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s."
Reflecting on her 12 years as an actress in Japan, she said, "I played many characters like yokai and assassins. The most challenging was a 100kg character," she shared, adding, "I had to wear makeup for three hours in the summer, and I really lost weight from sweating," reminiscing about her KARA days with a medley of hit songs and smiling as she noted, "I'm already 32."
Tae Yuna, Ten Asia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr