Kim Won-hee Clears the Air on Scandal with Kang Ho-dong

Kim Won-hee, 53, addressed the rumors surrounding her and Kang Ho-dong, 55, during a recent appearance on the SBS variety show 'But Seriously'.

On the episode aired on the 9th, Kim Won-hee revealed that Kang Ho-dong was the only person she was ever involved in a scandal with during her entertainment career. She recalled a past headline that read, 'Kim Won-hee Seduces Kang Ho-dong'.

Kim shared, “It was my first scandal, and it was quite serious. Reporters came to the set to verify the story. They even asked people around us if it was true, and there were witnesses.”

The scandal reportedly began in 1996 when the two were acting as a married couple on the variety show 'Happy Saturday'. Kim explained, “Reporters claimed they saw us together somewhere, and the details were very specific. I was taken aback. It was too serious to just laugh off, so I called Kang Ho-dong to ask if he had received similar inquiries from reporters.”

Regarding Kang Ho-dong's reaction, she said, “He abruptly ended the call, saying, 'Don't call me, it will fuel the rumors.' It was shocking. I needed to resolve the situation over the phone, but he acted as if I was the one spreading the rumors. It was embarrassing.”

Kim also shared the moment she lost any romantic interest in Kang Ho-dong. “We were having lunch after filming, grilling meat. He started eating without flipping the meat, and he didn’t offer me any. He ate nine out of ten pieces,” she revealed. “Even if not romantically, you’d expect a colleague to share. That’s when I decided to let it go.”

Kim attended Kang Ho-dong's wedding, noting, “I don’t think I received an invitation, but I went anyway. It would have been stranger not to go. He attended my wedding as well.”

By Tae Yuna, TenAsia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr