Kim Yuna, Park Tae-hwan, the ‘private lives’ of national universities

Former national team members who brought joy to the entire nation with gold medals and established Korea's status around the world are now taking a step back from their lives as athletes and focusing more on their personal lives. Kim Yu-na is enjoying a sweet newlywed life, while Park Tae-hwan and Lee Sang-hwa are active as broadcasters by regularly appearing on entertainment shows.

Go Woo-rim recently appeared on MBC's 'Save Me!' On 'Holmes', he talked about newlywed life with former national figure skating team member Yuna Kim. Yuna Kim married Go Woo-rim from the crossover group Forestella in October last year.

Go Woo-rim said about the interior of her newlywed home, "I like coffee, so I created a small home cafe space at home, but I have a dream to decorate the entire house like a cafe in the future." He also said, "I didn't get involved much. I followed my wife's opinion about 95% of the time. I think my wife's opinion is more important."

Kim Yu-na purchased the villa for 2.2 billion won in December 2011 and has been living there, and it is known that she did interior work ahead of her marriage to Go Woo-rim. This luxury villa is a 10-story building with one building, and all houses have a view of the Han River. It is also famous as the newlywed home where Jang Dong-gun and Ko So-young lived. According to the actual transaction price of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, a 244㎡ Type A was sold for 4.3 billion won in 2021. The asking price is around 8.5 billion won.

Former national team swimmer Park Tae-hwan is appearing on Channel A's 'Groom Class'. ‘Groom Class’ is a program where cast members of various ages share their thoughts and realities about marriage. Through 'Groom Class', Park Tae-hwan recently went on a date with Sandara Park, who was said to be his ideal type in the past.

Park Tae-hwan went out for Sandara Park, who appeared as a special guest on a broadcast he appeared on 13 years ago. The two had time to do the things Sandara Park always wanted to do. Park Tae-hwan, who visited the select shop, was constantly amazed when he saw Sandara Park dressed in the clothes he had chosen. After seeing Sandara Park's missing bottoms look, he praised her by saying, "It makes me feel more lovely."

Park Tae-hwan recalled his first meeting with Sandara Park and said, "Jiyong said he would greet me at the YG concert hall, and then I saw my sister, didn't I?" The two talked about dating. When Park Tae-hwan asked "Who is okay?" including other cast members of 'Groom Class', Sandara Park responded, "If I had to choose, it was Park Tae-hwan there?", making Park Tae-hwan laugh. The two created a sweet atmosphere throughout the date.

Gangnam, the husband of former national speed figure skater Lee Sang-hwa, hinted at his plans for the second generation. In KBS2's 'Walking Into the Fantasy', Gangnam and Lee Sang-hwa went on a trip to the Philippines. Gangnam prided himself on being an expert on travel to warm countries, saying, “Among men my age, I’ve probably been to these places the most.” Then he asked, “Sanghwa goes to cold places every day and can’t even go on a trip?” Lee Sang-hwa recalled, “We have to take care of our bodies, so we have accommodation and a rink, and since we have a match on the weekend anyway, we immediately go to another country.” When Gangnam asked, "If you had to do it again, would you do it?" Lee Sang-hwa answered firmly, "I won't," without thinking for even a few seconds.

MC Kyuhyun asked, “If your child turns 2, will you make him exercise?” Kangnam said, "After hearing what my wife did, I don't think I will make her exercise. She said that life seems that difficult and that she is only happy for the day she won a gold medal. She kept saying that."

These people are letting go of the weight of being a national representative and building their own ‘private lives’. The public, who cheered them on as national representatives from dating, marriage, and planning for the second generation, also watches with satisfaction as they remain faithful to their personal lives.

Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr