'Fencing Gold Medalist' Koo Bon-gil, Double Happiness

Gu Bon-gil, the fencing gold medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has been blessed with a double blessing.

On the SBS entertainment show 'Same Bed, Different Dreams 2 - You Are My Destiny' (hereafter referred to as 'Same Bed, Different Dreams 2') aired on the 12th, Goo Bon-gil was shown returning to Korea to meet his wife Park Eun-joo and second son.

On this day, Koo Bon-gil returned from Paris earlier than originally scheduled. While he was in Paris, his wife gave birth. She had emergency surgery due to pain that came two days earlier than the due date and gave birth.

When Koo Bon-gil saw his wife again after 22 days, he cried. His wife Park Eun-joo also cried, saying, “Why did you come so late? You were in so much pain.” Koo Bon-gil said, “I was late because I won this,” and put the Olympic gold medal around his wife’s neck. He also gave his wife a gift and a bouquet of flowers prepared by his fencing team mates.

Koo Bon-gil suffered an injury during the final match. When his wife was upset about her husband's injury, Koo Bon-gil said, "I was so worried about the word 'emergency surgery'" and expressed his concern for his wife. The wife said, "I had a hard time with the flu and COVID-19," and "I couldn't stand the pain anymore. When I came to the hospital, my uterus was already open. My stomach hurt so much, I tried to wait until you came (to give birth)," and "I thought I could just endure it for one day, I could just endure it for one day, but I couldn't."

Afterwards, the two went together to meet their second son, Mochi. When Koo Bon-gil first saw Mochi, he was moved and said, “She’s so pretty,” and “All my hardships disappeared.” His wife also started to cry, saying, “I don’t feel sick either.” Koo Bon-gil said, “I felt a lot of pressure to be helpful (because of the burden of being the oldest brother) in this Olympic team event,” and “I gained strength by recalling the words my wife said to me every time.”

Taeyuna Ten Asia reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr