Hong Jin-young Opens Up About Wealthy Suitor and Viral Video Controversy on 'Shoes Off, Single for Men'

Singer Hong Jin-young shared an intriguing story about being approached by a wealthy heir on the latest episode of SBS's variety show 'Shoes Off, Single for Men,' which aired on the 14th.

The episode featured Hong Jin-young, the couple Cho Jung-chi and Jung-in, and influencer Yoon Ha-jung. During the show, Hong addressed the recent 'pregnancy rumors' sparked by a viral video showing her 'belly fat.' She expressed her frustration, saying, "This is the first time I'm seeing this video. I kept skipping it whenever it popped up. It has garnered millions of views."

Hong Jin-young admitted feeling hurt by the comments, which speculated on her pregnancy duration and criticized her appearance. She humorously invited Tak Jae-hoon to verify her belly, causing laughter on set.

Tak Jae-hoon, taken aback, said, "I'll take your word for it," but also questioned, "Did you lose weight since then? Did you come to explain after losing weight?" Hong clarified, "I did eat a lot that day. I had octopus bibimbap."

Lee Sang-min suggested, "The best explanation would be to wear that outfit again," to which Hong confidently replied, "If I take it off, it's no joke," and jokingly threatened to tear her skirt with scissors while wearing a bikini.

Hong Jin-young also revealed that she was once approached by the grandson of a top 10 conglomerate family. She recalled, "I didn't know his exact wealth, but he sat arrogantly at the head of the table, which I disliked. I couldn't avoid attending because it was a close friend's birthday party. He looked at me and said, 'Who is she?' even though I was fully made up."

Feeling offended, Hong shared, "He said something I really hated: 'Be my woman from today.' I thought he was such a jerk."

At 40, Hong Jin-young discussed her thoughts on marriage, admitting, "I originally aimed to marry before 40, but it seems unlikely now. As time passed, I stopped thinking about marriage."

Recently, Hong received a call from a matchmaking company, saying someone wanted to meet her and had been searching for her contact information. She initially thought it was a scam.

When speculated that the person might not be an ordinary man, Hong, though flustered, stated, "I didn't meet him. I hate blind dates the most."

Hong Jin-young emphasized, "I'm financially ready for marriage. The man just needs to come as he is. He doesn't have to do anything for me, but I want someone who works hard and has his own career. I dislike men without independence." She admitted to giving luxury gifts and cash to a past boyfriend, receiving paper cranes in return, saying, "I did that in my 20s."

Kim Eun-jung, TenAsia Reporter eun@tenasia.co.kr