Choi Hong-man Discusses His 'Almost Relationship' on 'The Manager'

Choi Hong-man, the popular South Korean entertainer, recently appeared on the MBC show 'The Manager' and shared insights into his personal life, including his current 'almost relationship.'

During the episode aired on the 22nd, hosts Lee Young-ja and Jun Hyun-moo welcomed Choi, noting his improved demeanor and relaxed appearance. Choi, who has experienced a resurgence in popularity since his last appearance on the show, proudly shared, "I've been getting a lot of schedules, and importantly, a variety of advertisements are coming my way."

Choi visited a salon he has frequented for 17 years with his two close managers. He reminisced about his time as a singer in the duo 'Beauty and the Beast,' saying, "Performing on stage was a childhood dream, but there were issues with the producer, making it my first and last performance."

The salon owner, who has known Choi for 17 years, commented, "I've seen all of Choi's previous girlfriends, and they were all beautiful. Bring your current girlfriend next time, and I'll say only good things about you." Choi clarified, "She's not my girlfriend; we're just in an 'almost relationship,'" drawing attention.

When comedian Yoo Byung-jae expressed concern about Choi's current 'almost girlfriend' disliking stories about past relationships, Choi confidently replied, "She doesn't mind. I've told her everything about my past. The past is just the past."

Choi emphasized the concept of an 'almost relationship,' explaining, "In foreign countries, it's common to have an 'almost relationship' for a year. I want to cherish that feeling for a long time."

When asked if he had kissed his 'almost girlfriend,' Choi admitted, "Why? Is it wrong to kiss?" prompting comedian Hong Hyun-hee to question, "Why kiss someone who's just an 'almost girlfriend'?" She also pointed out, "You don't have many female fans, so why keep calling her an 'almost girlfriend'?" Choi sighed and deflected, saying, "Let's just move on."

Choi has also been successful as a home shopping host, selling everyday items like eggs, achieving 400,000 viewers and 10 billion won in sales during a single broadcast. Song Eun-i expressed amazement, saying, "Selling 10 billion won worth of everyday items is unbelievable."

Meanwhile, Choi's 'almost girlfriend' is reportedly 10 years younger and resembles actress Han Ye-seul.

Reported by Kim Eun-jung, TenAsia. Contact: eun@tenasia.co.kr